お元気でしたか
ogenki deshita ka
お元気でしたか (ogenki deshita ka) is how you say "how have you been?" in Japanese.
お元気でしたか is a greeting used to ask someone about their well-being since the last time you saw them. It is typically used when you have not seen the person for a significant period of time, rather than as a daily greeting.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the honorific o, the noun genki (health, energy or spirit), the copula deshita (the past tense of "to be") and the question particle ka.
Which one should you use?
お元気ですか asks "Are you well?" and お元気でいらっしゃいますか is a more polite version that adds the honorific prefix irasshaimasu. For a more concerned or caring tone in formal situations, you might use 最近いかがお過ごしでしょうか？, which means "How have you been recently?"
How do you pronounce it?
ogenki deshita ka
When do people say it?
When someone asks you this, a standard response is はい、元気です (Yes, I am well).
Did you know?
- The word 元気 is a compound of two kanji: 元 meaning 'origin' and 気 meaning 'spirit' or 'air'. Literally, asking お元気でしたか is asking if your original spirit has remained intact.
- The term 元気 ('genki') is used to describe the health of plants as well as people. A wilting plant is described as not being 元気.
- In Japan, asking お元気でしたか may sometimes be avoided if the speaker knows the other person has been through a hardship. In such cases, asking about 'energy' could be seen as insensitive.
Examples in context
- お元気でしたか？Ogenki deshita ka?How have you been?
- 久しぶりですね。お元気でしたか？Hisashiburi desu ne. Ogenki deshita ka?Long time no see. How have you been?
- お元気でしたか、先生？Ogenki deshita ka, sensei?How have you been, teacher?
Example conversation
Two former classmates meet by chance at a station.
- 大翔 Hiroto陽葵さん、久しぶり！お元気でしたか。Himari-san, hisashiburi! Ogenki deshita ka.Himari, long time no see! How have you been?
- 陽葵 Himariはい、元気でした。大翔さんは？Hai, genki deshita. Daito-san wa?Yes, I've been well. How about you, Daito?
- 大翔 Hiroto私も元気です。びっくりしました。Watashi mo genki desu. Bikkuri shimashita.I'm doing well too. I'm surprised to see you.
- 陽葵 Himari私もです。会えて嬉しいです。Watashi mo desu. Aete ureshii desu.Me too. I'm happy to see you.
