"How are you?" in Japanese is お元気ですか (ogenki desu ka), or casually 元気？ (genki?). Unlike in English, it is not a daily greeting: people ask it after not seeing someone for a while, or in letters and emails. The usual answer is 元気です (genki desu, "I'm well"), often politely softened with おかげさまで (okagesama de).
- Polite
- お元気ですか (ogenki desu ka)
- Casual
- 元気？ (genki?)
- Answer
- 元気です (genki desu)
- Long time no see
- お久しぶりです (ohisashiburi desu)
- Level
- A1
When do Japanese people ask ogenki desu ka?
お元気ですか asks about someone's health and general state, so it belongs to reunions: a friend back from abroad, a former teacher, a relative you see once a year. Asked of a colleague every morning, it would suggest you thought they looked unwell. With people you see daily, a plain greeting such as おはようございます does the job.
| Japanese | Romaji | Register | Use it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| お元気ですか | ogenki desu ka | Polite | Someone you have not seen for a while |
| 元気だった？ | genki datta? | Casual | "Have you been well?" to a friend after a gap |
| 最近どう？ | saikin dō? | Casual | "How's it going lately?" |
| 調子はどう？ | chōshi wa dō? | Casual | "How are things?": health, work, a project |
| いかがお過ごしでしょうか | ikaga osugoshi deshō ka | Formal, written | Opening a letter or business email: "How have you been keeping?" |
| 大丈夫ですか | daijōbu desu ka | Neutral | "Are you all right?" when someone seems unwell or upset |
How do you answer 'How are you?' in Japanese?
Answer with 元気です and ask back using the other person's name plus は: 田中さんは？ (Tanaka-san wa?, "and you?"). Japanese avoids あなた (you) with people you know, so the name does that work.
はい、元気です。
Hai, genki desu.
Yes, I'm well.
おかげさまで、元気です。
Okagesama de, genki desu.
I'm well, thank you.
おかげさまで literally means "thanks to you": a modest, polite touch.
まあまあです。
Māmā desu.
So-so.
うん、元気だよ。そっちは？
Un, genki da yo. Sotchi wa?
Yeah, good. You?
Casual; そっち ("that side") stands in for "you".
ちょっと疲れてる。
Chotto tsukareteru.
A bit tired.
An honest, casual answer between friends.
What does genki mean in a real conversation?
Between neighbours or friends, 元気？ often rides along with another greeting, and the reply may skip the question altogether.
「おはよう。 元気？」 「ああ、 おはよう」 美咲 は 返事 します。"Ohayō. Genki?" "Ā, ohayō" Misaki wa henji shimasu.
Literally, 元気 means energy or good health, so 元気？ is closer to "Are you keeping well?" than to an automatic "How are you?". Friends can answer honestly, and often do.
What mistakes do learners make with ogenki desu ka?
- Asking it as a daily hello. It implies you have not seen the person for a while.
- Confusing it with お元気で (ogenki de). That one is a farewell, "take care", said when parting for a long time.
- Adding あなたは to the question. Use the person's name, or leave the subject out.
- Answering 元気です when someone asks 大丈夫ですか. If you are fine, say 大丈夫です (daijōbu desu).
For greetings that do work every day, see how to say hello in Japanese.
Read free Japanese chapters at A1 and see 元気 used between real characters.
Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
How do you say 'I'm fine, thank you, and you?' in Japanese?
Say はい、元気です。田中さんは？ (Hai, genki desu. Tanaka-san wa?), using the other person's name. For extra politeness, start with おかげさまで: おかげさまで、元気です.
What does okagesama de mean?
Literally "thanks to you" or "thanks to your kind influence". It is a modest way to say things are going well, used even when the other person has not personally helped.
How do you say 'long time no see' in Japanese?
お久しぶりです (ohisashiburi desu) politely, or 久しぶり！ (hisashiburi!) with friends. It often comes just before お元気ですか or 元気だった？
How do you ask 'How are you?' in a Japanese email?
Formal and business emails often open with いかがお過ごしでしょうか (ikaga osugoshi deshō ka). To a friend, 元気？ or お元気ですか is fine.