元気
genki[ɡẽ̞ŋʲkʲi]
In Japanese, genki means well or energetic.
genki is used to describe someone who is in good spirits, lively or healthy. While it can refer to physical health, in social contexts it more often refers to being full of spirit or being lively rather than just the absence of illness. It is a standard way to ask about someone's well-being.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the characters 元 (origin/source) and 気 (spirit/energy/mind).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The word can be adapted to different levels of politeness. For a standard greeting, you can ask お元気ですか？ to inquire if someone is well. In informal settings, you can simply say 元気？ with a rising intonation to ask how someone is doing. For a more formal expression regarding someone's good health or spirits, the term ご機嫌（ごきげん） is used. In very casual conversations, you might also hear 調子どう（ちょうしどう）？ to ask about someone's overall condition.
How does it change in a sentence?
As a na-adjective, it takes the particle な (na) when it directly modifies a noun, such as 元気な人 (an energetic person).
How do you pronounce it?
genki
Did you know?
- The character 気 in genki originally referred to 'vapor' in ancient Chinese cosmology, representing a fundamental force that permeates all matter.
- Despite being a standard greeting, asking お元気ですか？ too frequently to a close friend can actually sound distant or overly formal.
- In Japanese, the concept of ki found in genki is so central that it has its own set of verbs to describe its flow, blockage or depletion.
Examples in context
- おはよう！元気にしてる？Good morning! Are you doing well?
- 社長、こんにちは。ご機嫌いかがですか？Hello, boss. How are you today?
- 元気ですか？Genki desu ka?Are you well?
- 彼はとても元気です。Kare wa totemo genki desu.He is very energetic.
- 今日も元気だね！Kyou mo genki da ne!You are energetic today, too!
Example conversation
Two friends meet on the street after a long time.
- 美咲 Misaki陽太くん、元気？Youta-kun, genki?Youta, how are you?
- 陽太 Yotaうん、元気だよ。美咲は？Un, genki da yo. Misaki wa?Yeah, I'm good. How about you, Misaki?
- 美咲 Misaki私も元気！Watashi mo genki!I'm doing great too!
- 陽太 Yotaそれはよかった。Sore wa yokatta.That's good to hear.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 元気, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 元気, CC BY-SA 4.0.
