大丈夫ですか？
The English phrase "are you okay?" is translated into Japanese as 大丈夫ですか？
The phrase 大丈夫ですか？ is used to ask about a person's well-being. It can also be used to ask if a situation or a plan is acceptable. When someone asks if you are okay, you can respond with 大丈夫です to mean "I am fine".
Which one should you use?
While 大丈夫ですか？ asks about a person's well-being, it can also be used to ask if a situation or a plan is acceptable.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
大丈夫ですか？ is a polite way to ask "Are you okay?" For casual situations with friends or family, you can use the informal version 大丈夫？ Other informal options include 元気？, which means "Are you well?" If you need a formal way to inquire about someone's physical or emotional state, you can use 調子はどうですか, which translates to "How's your condition?"
How does it change in a sentence?
The negative form of the adjective 大丈夫 is 大丈夫じゃありません.
Did you know?
- The word 大丈夫 originally referred to a 'great man' or a high-ranking warrior in the Imperial Court. Over centuries, its meaning shifted from describing a person of strength to describing a state of stability or reliability.
- In certain contexts, using 大丈夫 to mean 'it is okay' can be a way of politely declining an offer, such as a second helping of food or a bag.
- In high-pressure social settings, a Japanese person might answer 大丈夫です while their body language suggests they are struggling. This is part of the cultural practice of tatemae or maintaining a public face.
Examples in context
- 大丈夫ですか？daijoubu desu ka?Are you okay?
- 顔色が悪いですが、大丈夫ですか？kaoiro ga warui desu ga, daijoubu desu ka?You look pale, are you okay?
- 転びそうになりましたが、大丈夫ですか？korobi sou ni narimashita ga, daijoubu desu ka?You almost tripped, are you okay?
Example conversation
Himari sees Ren looking exhausted at his desk.
- 陽葵 Himari蓮さん、大丈夫ですか？ren-san, daijoubu desu ka?Ren, are you okay?
- 蓮 Renはい、少し疲れました。hai, sukoshi tsukaremashita.Yes, I'm just a little tired.
- 陽葵 Himari無理をしないでくださいね。muri o shinai de kudasai ne.Please don't overdo it.
- 蓮 Renありがとうございます。arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you.
