What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "You today pass [particle] how?", where 过 (guò) refers to spending or passing time.
Which one should you use?
While 你今天过得怎么样？ specifically asks about the quality of the day, 你怎么样？ is a more general way to ask "how are you?" regarding one's general state.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Replacing 你 with 您 makes the question more respectful and suitable for elders or superiors, making it 您今天过得怎么样？ For a more informal way to ask "How have you been lately?", you can use 最近怎么样？ If you want to informally ask "Are you doing well?", use 你过得还好吗？
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase 过得怎么样, the particle 得 (de) is used to link the verb 过 (to pass/spend time) to the adverbial complement 怎么样 (how) to describe the manner of the action. Additionally, the word 吗 at the end of a sentence turns the statement into a question.
How do you pronounce it?
nǐ jīntiān guò de zěnmeyàng?
When do people say it?
A common way to respond to this question is 我今天过得很好 (Wǒ jīntiān guò de hěn hǎo), which means "I am doing very well today."
Did you know?
- In many Chinese-speaking regions, people often skip the 'how are you' part entirely and instead ask 'Have you eaten?' (你吃了吗?). This serves a similar social function as a way to show care and initiate friendly conversation.
- The word 过 used in this phrase also means 'to celebrate'. When you ask how someone 'passed' their day, you are using the same verb used to say 'celebrate a birthday'.
- When responding to this phrase, adding 还可以 (hái kěyǐ) means 'not bad' or 'so-so', which is often a more culturally standard, modest response than 'I am great'.
Examples in context
- 你今天过得怎么样？Nǐ jīntiān guò de zěnmeyàng?How are you doing today?
Example conversation
Wei meets Jiayi at a coffee shop in the afternoon.
- 伟 Wei佳怡，你今天过得怎么样？Jiāyí, nǐ jīntiān guò de zěnmeyàng?Jiayi, how are you doing today?
- 佳怡 Jiayi我过得挺好的，谢谢。Wǒ guò de tǐng hǎo de, xièxiè.I am doing quite well, thank you.
- 伟 Wei那就好。Nà jiù hǎo.That's good.
- 佳怡 Jiayi你呢？Nǐ ne?And you?
