おはよう、元気？
ohayou, genki?
The English phrase "good morning, how are you?" is translated into Japanese as おはよう、元気？ (ohayou, genki?)
This phrase is a casual morning greeting used to ask someone how they are doing. It is used primarily with friends, family members or people of equal or lower social status.
Which one should you use?
The casual version is おはよう、元気？, whereas the polite version used with superiors or strangers is Ohayō gozaimasu, o-genki desu ka?
How do you pronounce it?
ohayou, genki?
When do people say it?
A respectful bow is a customary gesture of politeness in Japanese culture when greeting someone. If someone asks you how you are using the casual genki?, a common response is うん、元気！ (Yeah, I'm good!).
Did you know?
- The phrase おはよう is an adjective meaning 'early' in its original form, making the greeting essentially a comment that it is early.
- In many Japanese workplaces, workers greet each other with Otsukaresama desu rather than a morning greeting, even if it is the first time they see a colleague that day.
- In Japanese, the word genki is composed of the characters for 'original' and 'spirit' or 'energy'.
Example conversation
Misaki meets Ren in their apartment hallway in the morning.
- 美咲 Misakiおはよう、元気？ohayou, genki?Good morning, how are you?
- 蓮 Renうん、元気だよ。un, genki da yo.Yeah, I'm doing well.
- 美咲 Misakiよかった。yokatta.That's good.
- 蓮 Ren美咲は？misaki wa?How about you, Misaki?
