你今天过得怎么样？
Nǐ jīntiān guò de zěnmeyàng?
The English phrase "hi, how was your day?" is translated into Chinese as 你今天过得怎么样？ (Nǐ jīntiān guò de zěnmeyàng?)
This phrase is a friendly greeting used to ask someone about the quality or experience of their day, rather than just asking for a list of things they did.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "You today pass [degree particle] how?" In this context, 过 (guò) means to pass or spend time.
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle 得 (de) is used to link the verb 过 (guò, to spend/pass time) to the adverbial 怎么样 (zěnmeyàng, how) to describe the quality of the action.
How do you pronounce it?
Nǐ jīntiān guò de zěnmeyàng?
Did you know?
- While 'hi' is common in modern cities, traditional Chinese greetings often skip the 'hi' entirely and jump straight to a question about your well-being. Asking 'Have you eaten?' is actually a more classic way to check in on someone's day than asking how it went.
- The word 过 (guò) used in this phrase also means 'to cross' a road or 'to pass' an exam. In the context of a day, it treats time as a physical space that the person has traveled through.
- When answering this question, a common culturally modest response is 还可以 (hái kěyǐ), which means 'still okay'. This is often used even if the day was great to avoid appearing boastful.
Examples in context
- 你今天过得怎么样？Nǐ jīntiān guò de zěnmeyàng?How was your day today?
- 嗨，你今天过得怎么样？Hāi, nǐ jīntiān guò de zěnmeyàng?Hi, how was your day?
- 亲爱的，你今天过得怎么样？Qīn'ài de, nǐ jīntiān guò de zěnmeyàng?Darling, how was your day?
Example conversation
A couple meeting at home after work.
- 佳怡 Jiayi伟，你今天过得怎么样？Wěi, nǐ jīntiān guò de zěnmeyàng?Wei, how was your day?
- 伟 Wei挺好的，谢谢。Tǐng hǎo de, xièxiè.Quite good, thank you.
- 佳怡 Jiayi那就好。Nà jiù hǎo.That's good.
- 伟 Wei你呢？Nǐ ne?And you?
