Chinese phrases
How to say get well soon in Chinese
Get well soon in Chinese is 早日康复 (zǎo rì kāng fù), literally “recover at an early date.” To a friend with a cold, people more often say 好好休息 (hǎo hǎo xiū xi), “rest well.”
早日康复
get well soon
Ways to say get well soon
早日康复
Writtenget well soon
The standard wish in messages and cards, and to people you don’t know well. Often 祝你早日康复.
好好休息
Everydayrest well
What people say most to a sick friend or colleague, in person or in a message.
多喝热水
Everydaydrink lots of hot water
The classic advice for a cold. Parents say it with complete sincerity.
快点好起来
With friendsget better quickly
Casual and warm, to a friend, a partner or a child.
多保重
Everydaytake good care of yourself
Warm and a bit serious: for a longer illness, or to an older person.
Asking how they feel
哪里不舒服
what’s wrong? (where do you feel ill?)
When someone says they are not well.
你好点了吗
are you feeling better?
A day or two later. The usual answer is 好多了, “much better.”
注意身体
look after your health
After someone recovers, or to someone who works too hard.
Common mistakes
Hearing 多喝热水 as a brush-off
Online, 多喝热水 is a joke about boyfriends who say nothing else. From a parent or a colleague it is real care: many people in China drink hot water when they feel ill.
Only knowing 早日康复
It is right everywhere, but face to face with a friend it sounds like a card. Say 好好休息 or 快点好起来.
A message to a colleague
我发烧了，今天不去上班了。
Leon: I have a fever, so I’m not coming in today.
严重吗？
Colleague: Is it bad?
还好，有点难受。
Leon: Not too bad. I just feel a bit rough.
那你好好休息，多喝热水，早日康复！
Colleague: Then rest well, drink lots of hot water, and get well soon!
