元気です
genki desu
The English phrase "I am good" is translated into Japanese as 元気です (genki desu).
元気です is a standard response used to say that you are healthy and doing well when someone asks how you are. It is the typical way to answer the greeting O-genki desu ka? (How are you?).
What does it mean word for word?
The core part of the phrase, 元気, literally refers to one's spirit, energy or state of health.
Which one should you use?
While 元気です is the standard polite way to say you are well, you might use 調子は良いです to specifically mean "I am in good shape." For informal situations, you can use 元気だよ to say "I'm fine" or 大丈夫だよ to mean "I'm okay" or "I'm good."
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase can be made informal by replacing the polite desu with the plain form da, resulting in 元気だ.
How do you pronounce it?
genki desu
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using いいです to mean "I am well." While this translates to "it is good," in a service context it can often be interpreted as "I am fine (no thank you)."
Did you know?
- In many Japanese contexts, replying with a very enthusiastic genki desu! can sometimes be seen as unexpected or even suspicious, as a more modest or neutral response is often more culturally natural.
- In historical Japanese, 元気 was more closely associated with the life force or 'qi' found in traditional Chinese medicine.
- While 元気 means 'healthy' in a greeting, it can also be used to describe a loud or rowdy child as being 'energetic'.
Examples in context
- とても元気ですI am very well
- 元気です、お尋ねいただきありがとうございますI am well, thank you for asking
- ちょっと具合悪いけど元気だよI'm feeling a bit unwell, but I'm fine
- おかげさまで元気です。Okagesama de genki desu.Thanks to you, I am doing well.
- 最近はとても元気です。Saikin wa totemo genki desu.I have been very well lately.
Example conversation
Kenta meets Hiari in a park and asks how she is.
- 健太 Kenta陽葵さんは元気ですか？Hiari-san wa genki desu ka?Hiari, are you doing well?
- 陽葵 Himariはい、元気です。Hai, genki desu.Yes, I am doing well.
- 健太 Kentaそれはよかったです。Sore wa yokatta desu.That is good to hear.
- 陽葵 Himari健太さんも元気ですか？Kenta-san mo genki desu ka?Are you doing well too, Kenta?
