最近どう？
saikin dō?
The English phrase "hey, what's up?" can be translated into Japanese as 最近どう？ (saikin dō?)
最近どう？ is an informal greeting used to check in on someone's general life status rather than asking for a specific update on a single event. If you want to say "Hey" as a precursor, you can use the informal やあ or the slang abbreviation こんちゃ, which is a shortened form of こんにちは.
What does it mean word for word?
The word どう (dō) literally means "how".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
最近どう？ is an informal way to ask how someone has been. To make the phrase polite and suitable for acquaintances or people older than you, use 最近どうですか？ by adding ですか to the end.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the informal version 最近どう？, the question particle か is often omitted and the sentence ends with a rising intonation.
How do you pronounce it?
saikin dō?
Did you know?
- Unlike English, where 'what's up' is often a rhetorical greeting that doesn't require a real answer, answering 最近どう？ with a genuine update is the cultural expectation in Japan.
- While 最近どう？ asks about your life, Japanese culture often emphasizes 'reading the air' 空気を読む, meaning you might answer with a vague 'so-so' even if things are bad to maintain harmony.
- While English speakers use 'what's up' to mean 'how are you', a Japanese speaker might interpret a literal translation of 'what's up' as an inquiry into an actual physical event or movement occurring at that moment.
Examples in context
- 最近どう？Saikin dou?Hey, what's up lately?
- 久しぶり！最近どう？Hisashiburi! Saikin dou?Long time no see! How have you been lately?
- 元気？最近どう？Genki? Saikin dou?Are you doing well? What's up lately?
Example conversation
Two friends bump into each other at a cafe.
- 健太 Kenta結衣、久しぶり！最近どう？Yui, hisashiburi! Saikin dou?Yui, long time no see! What's up lately?
- 結衣 Yui健太くん！元気だよ。相変わらず忙しいかな。Kenta-kun! Genki dayo. Aikawarazu isogashii kana.Kenta! I'm good. I guess I'm as busy as ever.
- 健太 Kentaそっか、無理しないでね。Sokka, muri shinaide ne.I see, don't push yourself too hard.
- 結衣 Yuiありがとう！Arigatou!Thanks!
