Konnichiwa! If you’ve ever tried to learn Japanese, you’ve probably been taught the phrase “O-genki desu ka?” as the standard way to say “How are you?” in polite conversation. But did you know that there are many other ways to ask about someone’s well-being in Japanese, each with its own cultural context and level of formality?
In Japan, social hierarchy and politeness are highly valued, so it’s important to know how to address someone appropriately based on your relationship with them. But at the same time, Japanese people are also known for their use of casual language and playful expressions in everyday conversation.
So buckle up and get ready to learn some new Japanese phrases that will impress your friends and colleagues with your cultural knowledge – and maybe even make them laugh a little!
A note about formal and informal language in Japanese
In the Japanese language, the use of formal and informal language styles is an important aspect of communication, and it is necessary to understand when and where to use each style. The distinction between formal and informal language styles is referred to as “keigo” (敬語) and “teineigo” (丁寧語) in Japanese.
Formal language is typically used when speaking to people who are older, higher in social status, or in a more formal setting such as business or academic environments. It is also used to show respect, politeness, and a sense of professionalism. There are different levels of formality in Japanese, and it can be quite complex to navigate the appropriate usage for each situation.
Informal language, on the other hand, is used with friends, family, and peers, as well as in casual settings. It is more relaxed and often includes slang and colloquial expressions. Informal language is used to convey familiarity and a sense of closeness between people.
One thing to keep in mind is that the use of informal language with someone who should be addressed formally can be seen as disrespectful, and vice versa. It is important to understand the context of a situation and the relationship between people before deciding which style to use.
The use of formal and informal language in Japanese reflects the complex social hierarchy and the importance of showing respect and politeness. Understanding when to use each style can greatly affect the outcome of a conversation and the perception of the speaker.
Formality and informality in saying “how are you” in Japanese
In Japanese culture, it’s important to pay attention to the level of politeness you use when speaking with others. The level of politeness can vary depending on the social context and relationship between the speaker and listener.
For example, if you’re speaking to a stranger, a superior, or an elder, it’s appropriate to use more formal and polite language. On the other hand, if you’re speaking to a friend, a family member, or someone younger or of equal status, it’s more appropriate to use more casual and informal language.
This also applies to how you say “how are you” in Japanese. The most formal and polite way to ask someone how they are is “O-genki desu ka?” which is used in formal settings such as business or official meetings. On the other hand, in casual situations, it’s more common to use informal phrases like “Genki desu ka?” or “Dou ka shita?”
Using the wrong level of politeness can be seen as rude or disrespectful in Japanese culture, so it’s important to pay attention to the context and relationship between the speaker and listener when choosing how to ask “how are you” in Japanese.
Different ways of saying “How Are You In Japanese” in informal and formal language
- Genki? (元気？) – Are you feeling well? (informal)
This phrase is probably the simplest oneused to inquire about someone’s well-being or health. It only uses one word!
It is a friendly and informal way of asking if someone is feeling good or if they are experiencing any problems. The phrase can be used in a variety of situations, such as after someone has been sick, or when someone looks tired or stressed out. It is often used among friends or in casual settings.
Example sentence:
A: おい、元気？
B: ああ、大丈夫だよ。なんか具合悪そうに見えた？
Translation:
A: Hey, are you feeling well?
B: Yeah, I’m fine. Did I look like I was feeling bad or something?
O-genki desu ka? (お元気ですか？) – How are you? (polite)
This is a polite and formal way to ask someone how they are doing. It is commonly used in business and formal settings.
Example sentence:
あなたはお元気ですか？ (Anata wa o-genki desu ka?) – Are you doing well?
Response:
はい、元気です。 (Hai, genki desu.) – Yes, I’m doing well.
- Dou? (どう？) – What’s up? (informal)
This phrase is often used to initiate a conversation or ask someone what they have been doing recently. It is an informal way of asking someone how they are doing and is commonly used among friends or acquaintances. The phrase is often used in combination with other phrases like “最近どうしてた？” (What have you been up to lately?) to start a conversation.
Example sentence:
A: どう？最近どうしてた？
B: ああ、元気だよ。最近は忙しかったけど、それなりに頑張ってるよ。
Translation:
A: What’s up? What have you been up to lately?
B: Oh, I’m doing well. I’ve been busy lately, but I’m hanging in there.
- O-tsu ka re (おつかれ) – Tired yet? (informal)
This phrase is a common way of acknowledging someone’s hard work or effort and expressing concern for their well-being. It is often used at the end of a workday or after a long period of physical or mental exertion. The phrase is often followed by “様” (sama) or “さん” (san) to show respect to the person you are addressing.
Example sentence:
A: お疲れ！今日も一日頑張ったね。
B: うん、ちょっと疲れたけど、まあまあだよ。
Translation:
A: Good job today! You worked hard all day.
B: Yeah, I’m a little tired, but I’m hanging in there.
- Nani shiteru? (なにしてる？) – What are you up to? (informal)
This phrase is used to ask someone what they are doing at the moment or what they have been up to recently. It is a casual and friendly way of starting a conversation or catching up with someone. The phrase can be used in a variety of contexts, such as on the phone, in a text message, or in person.
Example sentence:
A: なにしてる？退屈してない？
B: いや、まあ、ネットサーフィンしてたり、読書してたりとか。
Translation:
A: What are you up to? Are you bored?
B: No, not really. I’ve been browsing the internet and reading books.
- Doushita no? (どうしたの？) – What happened? (casual)
This is a casual way to ask someone what happened or what’s wrong. It is commonly used among friends and family.
Example sentence:
どうしたの？大丈夫？ (Doushita no? Daijoubu?) – What happened? Are you okay?
Response:
ううん、大丈夫。 (Uun, daijoubu.) – No, I’m fine.
Example: どうしたの？ (Doushita no?) – What happened? Are you okay?
- Nanka ii koto atta? (何かいいことあった？) – Did anything good happen? (casual)
This is a casual way to ask someone if anything good has happened to them. It is a way to show interest in someone’s life.
Example sentence:
今日何かいいことあった？ (Kyou nanka ii koto atta?) – Did something good happen today?
Response:
うん、新しい仕事がもらえたよ。 (Un, atarashii shigoto ga moraeta yo.) – Yeah, I got a new job.
Example sentence:
元気？ (Genki?) – How are you?
This is a casual way to ask someone how they are doing. It can be used among friends and acquaintances.
Response:
ああ、元気。 (Aa, genki.) – Oh, I’m good.
- Saikin dou? (最近どう？) – How have you been lately? (casual)
This is a casual way to ask someone how they have been doing recently. It is a way to show interest in someone’s life.
Example sentence:
最近どう？ (Saikin dou?) – How have you been lately?
Response:
うーん、何となく忙しい。 (Uun, nantonaku isogashii.) – Well, I’ve been kind of busy.
- Choushi wa dou? (調子はどう？) – How is your condition? (casual)
This is a casual way to ask someone how they are feeling. It is commonly used among friends and family.
Example sentence:
調子はどう？ (Choushi wa dou?) – How are you feeling?
Response:
まあまあかな。 (Maa maa kana.) – I’m okay, I guess.
Ogenki? (お元気？) – How are you? (casual)
This is a casual and friendly way to ask someone how they are doing.
Example sentence:
お元気？ (Ogenki?) – How are you?
Response:
うん、元気だよ。 (Un, genki da yo.) – Yeah, I’m doing well.
- Dou ka shita? (どうかした？) – Is something wrong? (casual)
This is a casual way to ask someone if something is wrong. It is a way to show concern and offer support.
Example:
A: どうかした？元気がないみたいだけど。
B: いや、別に大丈夫。ただちょっと疲れただけさ。
Translation:
A: Is something wrong? You seem a bit down.
B: No, it’s nothing. I’m just a little tired, that’s all.
- Saikin dou? (最近どう？) – How have you been lately? (casual)
This is a casual way to inquire about someone’s well-being, especially over a longer period of time. It’s often used among friends or acquaintances.
Example answer: あまり変わりないよ。お前は？(Amari kawari nai yo. Omae wa?) – Not much has changed. How about you?
- Choushi wa dou? (調子はどう？) – How is your condition? (casual)
This is a casual way to ask about someone’s physical or mental condition. It’s often used among friends or family.
Example answer: まあ、こんなもんかな。(Maa, konnna mon kana.) – Eh, I’m doing okay.
- Ossu, genki? (おっす、元気？) – Hey, you good? (informal)
Example:
Person A: おっす、元気？(Hey, you good?)
Person B: うん、元気だよ。(Yeah, I’m good.)
Explanation:
This is a very casual and informal way of asking how someone is doing in Japanese. “Ossu” is a slangy greeting that is equivalent to “Hey” or “What’s up” in English. “Genki” means “energetic” or “healthy,” so the question “Genki?” is essentially asking “Are you feeling good?” or “Are you doing well?”
- O-tsu ka re (おつかれ) – Tired yet? (informal)
This phrase is often used as a greeting when someone is leaving work or finishing a task. “O-tsukare” is derived from the phrase “otsukaresama deshita,” which is a polite way of expressing appreciation for someone’s hard work. The casual form “o-tsukare” is used among friends and colleagues to ask if someone is tired after working or doing something challenging.
Example:
Person A: おつかれ。(Tired yet?)
Person B: うん、ちょっと疲れたけど大丈夫。(Yeah, I’m a little tired, but I’m okay.)
- Genki no? (元気の？) – Are you feeling well? (informal)
This is a casual and informal way of asking someone if they are feeling well. “Genki” means “healthy” or “energetic,” and “no” is a particle used to form a question. So “genki no?” is essentially asking “Are you feeling healthy?” or “Are you feeling good?” This phrase is often used among friends and acquaintances as a way of checking in on each other’s health or well-being.
Example:
Person A: 元気の？(Are you feeling well?)
Person B: うん、元気だよ。(Yeah, I’m feeling good.)
- O-sewa ni natteimasu. (お世話になっています。) – Thank you for all you do. (polite)
This phrase is used to express gratitude towards someone for their help or assistance. It is a polite way to show appreciation.
O-sewa ni natteimasu. (お世話になっています。) – Thank you for all you do. (polite)
Example sentence:
お世話になっています。 (O-sewa ni natteimasu.) – Thank you for everything you do for me.
Response:
いいえ、どういたしまして。 (Iie, dou itashimashite.) – No, don’t mention it.
- “Ogenki desu ka” (お元気ですか) – How are you (polite)
“Ogenki desu ka” (お元気ですか) is one of the most common phrases used in Japanese to inquire about a person’s well-being. It is a polite and formal way to ask “How are you?”
The word “ogenki” (お元気) means “health” or “energy” and “desu ka” (ですか) is a polite way of asking a question.
Here are some examples of how “Ogenki desu ka” can be used:
Example 1:
Person A: “Ogenki desu ka?” (How are you?)
Person B: “Hai, genki desu.” (Yes, I’m fine.)
Example 2:
Person A: “Ogenki desu ka?” (How are you?)
Person B: “Maamaa desu.” (I’m okay.)
Example 3:
Person A: “Ogenki desu ka?” (How are you?)
Person B: “Chotto byouki desu.” (I’m a little sick.)
As for the response to “Ogenki desu ka,” you can use “Hai, genki desu” (Yes, I’m fine), “Maamaa desu” (I’m okay), “Chotto byouki desu” (I’m a little sick), or any other appropriate response depending on your condition.
In summary, “Ogenki desu ka” is a polite and formal way to ask someone about their well-being in Japanese. It’s a common phrase used in daily conversation and it’s important to know how to use it in order to communicate effectively with Japanese speakers.
- “Yoroshiku onegaishimasu” (よろしくお願いします) – Please. (polite)
“Yoroshiku onegaishimasu” (よろしくお願いします) is a phrase commonly used in Japanese culture to express a request for a favor, a request for cooperation, or simply to express gratitude in advance for the help or kindness of someone else. It can be translated to mean “Please be kind to me,” “Please take care of me,” or “Please do me a favor.”
The phrase is often used at the end of a conversation or introduction and is a way of establishing a good relationship and expressing good intentions towards the other person. It is a polite and respectful way of expressing appreciation and making a request for assistance or cooperation.
Example 1:
A: こんにちは、私は鈴木です。よろしくお願いします。
(Konnichiwa, watashi wa Suzuki desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.)
(Hello, I am Suzuki. Please be kind to me.)
B: こんにちは、私は田中と申します。こちらこそよろしくお願いします。
(Konnichiwa, watashi wa Tanaka to moushimasu. Kochira koso yoroshiku onegaishimasu.)
(Hello, I am Tanaka. Nice to meet you too. Please be kind to me as well.)
In this example, person A introduces themselves and uses “yoroshiku onegaishimasu” to express their appreciation and request for cooperation from person B. Person B responds by also using “yoroshiku onegaishimasu” to express their own good intentions and willingness to cooperate.
Example 2:
A: 田中さん、明日のプレゼンの準備はもうできましたか？
(Tanaka-san, ashita no purezen no junbi wa mou dekimashita ka?)
(Tanaka-san, have you finished preparing for tomorrow’s presentation?)
B: いいえ、まだですが、今晩中に完成させます。よろしくお願いします。
(Iie, mada desu ga, konban naka ni kansei sasemasu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.)
(No, not yet, but I will finish it tonight. Please be kind to me.)
In this example, person A is asking person B if they have finished preparing for a presentation. Person B responds by saying that they haven’t finished yet but will complete it tonight and uses “yoroshiku onegaishimasu” to express their request for cooperation and understanding from person A.
Overall, “yoroshiku onegaishimasu” is a versatile phrase that is commonly used in Japanese culture to express gratitude, establish good relationships, and request assistance or cooperation.
This is a polite and formal way to make a request or ask for something. It is commonly used in business and formal settings.
Example sentence:
すみません、お茶をお願いします。(Sumimasen, o-cha wo onegaishimasu.) – Excuse me, can I have some tea, please?
Response:
はい、かしこまりました。(Hai, kashikomarimashita.) – Yes, certainly.
So which phrase for “How are you” is best in Japanese?
Overall, the phrase “how are you” can be expressed in various ways depending on the level of politeness and familiarity between the speakers. Informal phrases include “Ossu, genki?” (Hey, you good?) and “Nani shiteru?” (What are you up to?), while more polite expressions include “O-genki desu ka?” (How are you?) and “Saikin dou desu ka?” (How have you been lately?).
In casual settings, phrases like “O-tsu ka re” (Tired yet?) and “Genki no?” (Are you feeling well?) are also common. The phrase “yoroshiku onegaishimasu” is often used in situations where someone is asking for a favor or at the end of a conversation, as a way of showing respect and gratitude.
Overall, the choice of which phrase to use depends on the context and relationship between the speakers. However, “O-genki desu ka?” (How are you?) is one of the most common and polite ways to ask someone about their well-being, and is appropriate in most situations.
You may be interested in learning what words like “yamete” are in Japanese, or how to say “no problem” in Japanese
