Learning how to say How are you in Japanese is an important step if you want to connect politely and naturally with native speakers. While English often uses How are you? casually, Japanese has several variations that change based on formality, tone, and relationship.

Whether you’re greeting a friend, speaking to a teacher, or meeting someone new, knowing the right phrase will help you show respect and build stronger connections.

How Are You in Japanese

Here’s a 15-phrases table for different ways to say How are you? in Japanese with meanings, phrases, pronunciation, and usage:

#	English Phrase	Japanese Phrase	Pronunciation	Usage / Context
1	How are you?	お元気ですか	o-genki desu ka	Polite, common greeting
2	How’s it going?	調子はどう	chōshi wa dō	Informal, with friends
3	Are you well?	元気？	genki?	Very casual
4	How have you been?	お元気でしたか	o-genki deshita ka	Polite, after time apart
5	How are things?	どうしてる	dō shiteru	Friendly, casual
6	How are you feeling?	気分はどう	kibun wa dō	Asking about feelings
7	Are you okay?	大丈夫？	daijōbu?	Casual, caring
8	How’s life?	人生はどう	jinsei wa dō	Casual, light humor
9	How’s your day?	今日の調子はどう	kyō no chōshi wa dō	Everyday use
10	How are you doing lately?	最近どうですか	saikin dō desu ka	Polite, everyday
11	How are you (formal)?	ご機嫌いかがですか	go-kigen ikaga desu ka	Very formal, business
12	How do you feel today?	今日の気分はどう	kyō no kibun wa dō	Casual, friendly
13	How are you holding up?	元気にしてる	genki ni shiteru	Casual concern
14	How’s everything?	全部どう	zenbu dō	Informal
15	What’s up?	よ！元気？	yo! genki?	Very casual, slangy

Let’s dive into 15 authentic ways to say How are you? in Japanese, with dialogues and cultural insights that will help you sound natural and respectful.

1. お元気ですか？ (O-genki desu ka?) – Are you well?

Origin:
This is the textbook version of “How are you?” and is formal. “Genki” means healthy or lively.

Example:
👤 User A: お元気ですか？
👤 User B: はい、元気です。ありがとうございます。
(Yes, I’m well. Thank you.)

Use: Formal situations, emails, or speaking to elders.

2. 元気？ (Genki?) – You good?

Origin:
A casual version of “O-genki desu ka?” used among friends and equals.

Example:
👤 User A: やっほー、元気？
👤 User B: うん、元気だよ！そっちは？
(Yep, I’m good! You?)

Use: Informal, friendly greeting.

3. 調子はどう？ (Chōshi wa dō?) – How’s it going?

Origin:
“Chōshi” means condition or rhythm. This phrase sounds natural among colleagues and friends.

Example:
👤 User A: 久しぶり！調子はどう？
👤 User B: 悪くないよ。そっちは？
(Not bad. You?)

Use: Informal and modern; common in daily chats.

4. 最近どう？ (Saikin dō?) – How have you been lately?

Origin:
“Saikin” means recently. This is often used when you haven’t seen someone in a while.

Example:
👤 User A: 最近どう？忙しい？
👤 User B: まあね、でも元気！
(Yeah, kind of, but I’m doing well!)

Use: Friendly, used when catching up.

5. 調子いい？ (Chōshi ii?) – Things going well?

Origin:
A casual take on #3. It literally asks, “Is your condition good?”

Example:
👤 User A: 調子いい？
👤 User B: 最高！いい感じ！
(Great! Feeling good!)

Use: Informal, good for energetic conversations.

6. 大丈夫？ (Daijōbu?) – You okay?

Origin:
Used when someone might not be okay. Often more of a check-in than a general greeting.

Example:
👤 User A: 顔色悪いけど、大丈夫？
👤 User B: うん、ちょっと疲れてるだけ。
(Yeah, just a little tired.)

Use: Concerned tone; not a casual hello.

7. どうしたの？ (Dō shita no?) – What’s wrong?

Origin:
More direct than “Daijōbu?”, this is used if someone seems upset or sick.

Example:
👤 User A: 元気ないね、どうしたの？
👤 User B: 昨日ほとんど寝てないんだ。
(I barely slept last night.)

Use: Concerned or intimate; not for casual check-ins.

8. 調子悪い？ (Chōshi warui?) – Not feeling well?

Origin:
Directly asks if something’s wrong. Common when someone looks off.

Use: Casual and slightly concerned.

9. 体調はどう？ (Taichō wa dō?) – How’s your physical condition?

Origin:
A slightly formal and respectful way to ask how someone feels physically.

Example:
👤 User A: 手術の後、体調はどうですか？
👤 User B: おかげさまで、だいぶ良くなりました。
(Thanks to you, I’ve improved a lot.)

Use: Polite, especially for health-related follow-ups.

10. うまくいってる？ (Umaku itteru?) – Is everything going smoothly?

Origin:
Literally means “Is it going well?” Often used in context like work, studies, or relationships.

Example:
👤 User A: 新しい仕事、うまくいってる？
👤 User B: まあまあかな。まだ慣れてないけど。
(So-so. Still getting used to it.)

Use: Conversational, thoughtful check-in.

11. 変わりない？ (Kawari nai?) – Nothing’s changed?

Origin:
Traditional phrasing, asking if everything is the same. Often used in written or older speech.

Example:
👤 User A: しばらく会ってないね。変わりない？
👤 User B: うん、特に何も。そっちは？
(Nothing much. How about you?)

Use: Polite and nostalgic.

12. 元気にしてた？ (Genki ni shiteta?) – Have you been well?

Origin:
Past tense version of “Genki?”, often used when meeting someone after a long time.

Example:
👤 User A: 久しぶり！元気にしてた？
👤 User B: うん、ずっと元気だったよ！
(Yeah, I’ve been doing well!)

Use: Warm and friendly; perfect for reunions.

13. 何かあった？ (Nani ka atta?) – Did something happen?

Origin:
Used when you suspect a problem or change in mood.

Example:
👤 User A: 元気ないね…何かあった？
👤 User B: うーん、実はね…。
(Umm… actually, yeah…)

Use: Concerned tone, not a typical greeting.

14. 元気そうだね！ (Genki sō da ne!) – You look well!

Origin:
Instead of asking, it’s a statement that opens conversation warmly.

Example:
👤 User A: わあ、元気そうだね！
👤 User B: ありがとう！最近いい感じだよ。
(Thanks! Things have been going well.)

Use: Friendly and positive opener.

15. よく寝れた？ (Yoku nereta?) – Did you sleep well?

Origin:
Common in close relationships (like couples or family) as a daily check-in.

Example:
👤 User A: おはよう！よく寝れた？
👤 User B: うん、ぐっすり！
(Yeah, I slept like a baby!)

Use: Intimate, for close daily interactions.

Conclusion:

Mastering how to say How are you in Japanese helps you go beyond basic greetings and speak more naturally with native speakers.

From casual expressions with friends to formal phrases in professional settings, using the right version shows cultural awareness and respect. This simple step will make your Japanese conversations warmer and more authentic.