元気だよ、そっちは？
genki da yo, sotchi wa?
The phrase "good how are you?" in Japanese is 元気だよ、そっちは？ (genki da yo, sotchi wa?)
This phrase is used as a conversational follow-up to a greeting such as 元気？ (Are you well?). It serves to confirm that the speaker is doing well and then immediately asks the other person how they are.
What does it mean word for word?
元気 (genki) literally means energy, health or vigor. The second part, そっちは？ (sotchi wa?), literally means "as for that side?" or "as for your side?"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 元気だよ、そっちは？ is informal and should be used with friends or people of equal or lower social status. For formal situations, you might use お元気ですか？ to ask "how are you?" or ご機嫌いかがですか？ to ask "how are you feeling?" To answer formally, you can say はい、元気です。 for "Yes, I am fine."
How do you pronounce it?
genki da yo, sotchi wa?
Did you know?
- In many social contexts, Japanese speakers avoid saying they are doing poorly even if they are, as admitting struggle can be seen as imposing a burden on the listener.
- In Japanese culture, repeatedly asking 元気? to someone who looks visibly exhausted or unwell can be seen as insensitive rather than polite.
- The casual use of そっちは? (sotchi wa?) literally refers to the other person's 'side' or 'direction', treating the person as a separate location.
Examples in context
- うん、元気だよ、そっちは？un, genki da yo, socchi wa?Yeah, I'm fine, how are you?
Example conversation
Two friends are chatting on the phone.
- 大翔 Hiroto美咲、久しぶり！元気？Misaki, hisashiburi! Genki?Misaki, long time no see! How are you?
- 美咲 Misaki元気だよ、そっちは？Genki da yo, sotchi wa?I'm good, how about you?
- 大翔 Hiroto僕も元気だよ。ありがとう。Boku mo genki da yo. Arigatou.I'm doing well too. Thanks.
- 美咲 Misakiよかった！Yokatta!That's good to hear!
