元気です
genki desu
In Japanese, the English phrase "I am doing well" is expressed as 元気です (genki desu).
元気です is a response used to say that you are healthy and happy when someone asks how you are. It can mean "I am well" or "I am fine," but it specifically emphasizes being healthy, energetic or in good spirits.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 元気 (genki) literally means energy or spirit.
Which one should you use?
While 元気です emphasizes being healthy or energetic, another option is 調子は良いです, which translates to "I am in good shape" or "I am feeling good."
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kansai dialect, you may hear ぼちぼちやで to mean "I am doing fine."
How does it change in a sentence?
You can change the level of formality by altering the ending: adding です (desu) to 元気 (genki) makes the phrase polite, while replacing it with the plain form だ (da) makes it informal (元気だ). In informal speech, you might also use 調子いいよ to mean "I am feeling good."
How do you pronounce it?
genki desu
Did you know?
- In Japan, responding with 元気です when you are actually struggling can be a way of maintaining 'wa' or social harmony by not burdening the other person with your problems.
- The word 元気 consists of two characters meaning 'origin' and 'energy'. It refers to the vital energy that flows through the body, which is a concept shared with traditional Chinese medicine.
- The phrase お元気ですか is often reserved for people you have not seen in a long time, whereas daily greetings among friends usually avoid this specific phrasing.
Examples in context
- ありがとう。元気です。I am doing well, thank you.Tatoeba #230001 by small_snow, translation #4097528 by hickeety
- はい、元気です。Hai, genki desu.Yes, I am doing well.
- おかげさまで元気です。Okagesama de genki desu.Thanks to you, I am doing well.
Example conversation
Yota and Himari meet at a train station.
- 陽太 Yota陽葵さん、お久しぶりです。元気ですか？Himari-san, ohisashiburi desu. Genki desu ka?Himari, it's been a while. Are you doing well?
- 陽葵 Himariはい、元気です。陽太さんは？Hai, genki desu. Yota-san wa?Yes, I am doing well. How about you, Yota?
- 陽太 Yota私も元気です。ありがとうございます。Watashi mo genki desu. Arigato gozaimasu.I am doing well too. Thank you.
- 陽葵 Himariそれはよかったですね。Sore wa yokatta desu ne.That's good to hear.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
