お元気ですか
o-genki desu ka?[o̞ ɡẽ̞ŋʲkʲi de̞sɨ̥ ka̠]
In Japanese, "how are you?" is expressed as お元気ですか (o-genki desu ka?).
The phrase is a polite way to ask about someone's health or general well-being. It is typically used when you have not seen someone for a period of time, rather than as a daily greeting for someone you see every day.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the honorific prefix o, the noun genki (health/vitality), the copula desu (is/are) and the question particle ka.
Which one should you use?
While お元気ですか is the standard polite form, you can use the casual version 元気？ with friends and family by dropping the o and desu ka. For an even more informal way to ask "How's it going?", you can use 調子どう？
How do you pronounce it?
o-genki desu ka?
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use お元気ですか as a casual "hello" to colleagues they see every morning. In Japanese, using this phrase implies a longer interval of absence since you last saw the person.
When do people say it?
When someone asks you this, a standard polite response is はい、元気です。 (Yes, I am well.).
Did you know?
- Because お元気ですか is reserved for long absences, Japanese people often use weather-related comments as a substitute for 'how are you' when meeting daily.
- While 元気 means 'healthy' or 'energetic', it is also used in the phrase 元気を出して to tell someone to 'cheer up'.
- In Japanese pop culture, such as anime, a character shouting 元気! might be signaling a sudden burst of physical energy or a spirited shout rather than asking a question.
Examples in context
- お元気ですか。Ogenki desu ka.How are you?
- 田中さん、お元気ですか。Tanaka-san, ogenki desu ka.Mr. Tanaka, how are you?
- 最近、お元気ですか。Saikin, ogenki desu ka.How have you been lately?
Example conversation
Misaki meets Kenta after not seeing him for a while.
- 美咲 Misaki健太さん、お元気ですか。Kenta-san, ogenki desu ka.Kenta, how are you?
- 健太 Kentaはい、元気です。美咲さんは？Hai, genki desu. Misaki-san wa?Yes, I am well. How about you, Misaki?
- 美咲 Misaki私も元気です。Watashi mo genki desu.I am well too.
- 健太 Kentaそれはよかったです。Sore wa yokatta desu.That is good to hear.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry お元気ですか, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
