Greetings from Japan! Are you curious about how to say “How are you?” in Japanese? You’ve come to the right place. In this post, I, a native Japanese speaker, will provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to ask “How are you?” in Japanese, along with tips, other ways to ask “How are you?” in Japanese and common mistakes to avoid. Let’s get started!
Popular Ways to Say “How Are You?” in Japanese
The most popular way to ask “How are you?” in Japanese is by saying 「お元気ですか?」（Ogenki desu ka?）. This phrase is one of the most common ways to ask “How are you?” in Japanese. It literally translates to “Are you well?” and is a polite way to inquire about someone’s well-being. Another popular phrase to say “How are you?” in Japanese is 「元気?」（Genki?） which literally translates to “Are you well?” too. This phrase is less formal than “Ogenki desu ka?” and is commonly used among friends and family. What you have to be careful of is that both「お元気ですか?」（Ogenki desu ka?） and 「元気?」（Genki?） are used for people you haven’t seen for a while. For example, I (a native Japanese speaker) would not use them with someone I see every week.
The Different Contexts of Asking “How Are You?” in Japanese
When asking “How are you?” in Japanese, it’s important to consider the context of the conversation. For example, if you’re talking to someone you don’t know very well, then it’s best to use the phrase「お元気ですか?」（Ogenki desu ka?）. This phrase is polite and respectful and is a great way to show your respect for the other person. On the other hand, if you’re talking to someone you know well, then you can use the more casual「元気?」（Genki?）. This shows your familiarity with the other person and is a great way to show your friendship.
It’s also important to consider the formality of the situation when asking “How are you?” in Japanese. If you’re in a formal situation, such as a business meeting, then it’s best to use the phrase 「お元気ですか?」（Ogenki desu ka?）. On the other hand, if you’re in a more casual situation, such as meeting up with a friend, then you can use the more casual 「元気?」（Genki?）.
In the following video, you can see scenes in which 「お元気ですか?」（Ogenki desu ka?） and 「元気?」（Genki?）are actually used.
Tips for Asking “How Are You?” in Japanese
When asking “How are you?” in Japanese, it’s important to keep a few tips in mind. First, be sure to use the correct phrase for the context and situation. As we’ve discussed, 「お元気ですか?」（Ogenki desu ka?） is the most formal phrase and should be used in more formal contexts, while the more casual phrase「元気?」（Genki?） should be used in more casual contexts.
It’s also important to keep your tone and body language in mind when asking “How are you?” in Japanese. Be sure to smile and keep your body language open. This will show your respect and friendliness to the other person and will make the conversation more comfortable.
Finally, it’s important to listen to the other person’s response and respond appropriately. Be sure to show your interest in the other person’s response and ask follow-up questions as appropriate. This will show that you care about the other person and will make the conversation more meaningful.
Common Responses to “How Are You?” in Japanese
When asking “How are you?” in Japanese, it’s important to be aware of the common responses. The most common response to 「お元気ですか?」（Ogenki desu ka?） is 「はい、元気です」（Hai, genki desu） which translates to “Yes, I’m well.” Or you can say「はい、おかげさまで」（Hai, okagesama de）which means “Yes, thanks to you.” These are polite ways to respond and are great ways to show your respect to the other person.
If you are speaking to a superior, his/her response to 「お元気ですか?」 （Ogenki desu ka?）might be「うん、元気」（Un, genki）, which is a casual form of「はい、元気です」（Hai, genki desu）.
Conversely, in the following video, when the woman says, 「元気?」（Genki?） and the man replies, 「はい、おかげさまで」（Hai, okagesama de）. In other words, the woman uses a casual expression, while the man uses a formal one. From this, we can see that the woman is in a superior position, such as a senior of the man.
Other Ways to Ask “How Are You?” in Japanese
In addition to 「お元気ですか?」（Ogenki desu ka?） and 「元気?」（Genki ka?）, there are a few other ways to ask “How are you?” in Japanese .
One way is to use the phrase 「大丈夫ですか?」（Daijoubu desu ka?） which literally translates to “Are you alright?”. Another phrase is 「どうしたんですか?」（Dou shitandesu ka?）which means “What happened to you?”
You can use these when you are worried about someone who is acting differently than usual, for example, when they are not in good spirits.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When asking “How are you?” in Japanese, it’s important to avoid a few common mistakes.
When you are asked「お元気ですか?」（Ogenki desu ka?）or「元気?」（Genki?）, you should not use 「お」（o） before 「元気」（genki）. In other words, do not say 「はい、お元気です」（Hai, ogenki desu）or「うん、お元気」（Un, ogenki）.「お」（o） is used to show respect to others, not to oneself.
Also, 「お元気ですか?」（Ogenki desu ka?）and「元気?」（Genki?）are used for people you haven’t seen in a while. In the following video, they say 「お久しぶりです」（Ohisashiburi desu）or「久しぶり」（Hisashiburi）, which mean “Long time no see” and then asks 「お元気ですか?」（Ogenki desu ka?）or「元気?」（Genki?）. How long is a long time depends on the person, but for me, a native speaker, if I haven’t seen someone for a month or so, I feel it has been a long time.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we’ve provided you with a comprehensive guide.
With this guide, you’ll be well on your way to mastering the art of asking “How are you?” in Japanese. So, don’t be afraid to start practicing and you’ll be speaking Japanese in no time!
Leave a Reply