Pas på dig selv.

A word-for-word breakdown is:

• Pas = take care / mind / watch
• på = on / out for / over depending on the expression
• dig = you (object form, informal singular)
• selv = self

So the literal structure is something like Take care of yourself or Watch out for yourself, even though the natural English translation is usually just Take care.

Because pas is the imperative form of the verb at passe.

• infinitive: at passe = to take care of / to mind / to fit
• imperative: pas! = take care! / mind!

In Danish, the imperative is often the verb stem used directly as a command:

• Kom! = Come!
• Vent! = Wait!
• Pas på! = Be careful!

So Pas på dig selv is a command or encouragement directed at someone: Take care of yourself.

Pas på is a very common fixed expression in Danish. Together, it means things like:

• be careful
• watch out
• take care

So this is not just the verb passe used in a random way with på. You should learn pas på as a unit.

Examples:

• Pas på! = Watch out!
• Pas på bilen! = Watch out for the car!
• Pas på dig selv. = Take care of yourself.

Because Danish often uses selv to make the reflexive idea clear and natural: yourself rather than just you.

• dig = you
• dig selv = yourself

In this sentence, the understood subject is you, because it is an imperative. So dig selv means the same person as the one being spoken to.

That said, Pas på dig can occur, but Pas på dig selv is the more complete and idiomatic way to say take care of yourself.

Yes. dig is the normal informal singular form.

Other versions are:

• Pas på dig selv. = to one person, informal
• Pas på jer selv. = to more than one person
• Pas på Dem selv. = formal you, but this is much less common in modern Danish

In everyday Danish, the informal forms are used most of the time.

Yes, very common.

Pas på dig selv is a natural, warm way to say take care to one person, especially at the end of a conversation or message.

It can sound:

• caring
• affectionate
• slightly personal
• sincere

A shorter version is:

• Pas på! = Take care! / Be careful!

That one can sound a bit more general.

Usually yes, but the tone can lean a little more toward look after yourself or be careful than some very casual English uses of take care.

So depending on context, it may suggest:

• general care for your wellbeing
• concern for your safety
• warmth at parting

If someone has been sick, stressed, traveling, or dealing with something difficult, Pas på dig selv can sound especially caring.

Yes, very often. It is a versatile expression.

Examples:

• Pas på! = Watch out!
• Pas på trappen. = Watch out on the stairs.
• Pas på ikke at falde. = Be careful not to fall.
• Pas på hunden. = Watch out for the dog.

So in Pas på dig selv, the same expression is being used with yourself as the object.

A rough English-friendly guide would be something like:

pahs paw dai sell

But that is only approximate.

A few pronunciation notes:

• pas sounds a bit like pass, but often with a softer Danish sound
• på has a vowel somewhat like paw
• dig is often pronounced more like dai in everyday speech
• selv is not pronounced exactly like English self; the v can be quite soft

If you want to sound natural, it helps to learn the whole sentence as one chunk rather than pronouncing each word very separately.

This is standard Danish imperative word order:

• Pas = verb first
• then the rest of the phrase: på dig selv

That is normal for commands in Danish.

Compare:

• Kom her. = Come here.
• Se dig for. = Watch out.
• Pas på dig selv. = Take care of yourself.

The subject you is not said, because it is understood.

Yes, you can, and it literally means take care of yourself too.

• Tag vare på dig selv is understandable and correct
• Pas på dig selv is usually more everyday and more common in speech

So if you are learning the most natural phrase to use casually, Pas på dig selv is the better one to remember first.