お元気ですか
o-genki desu ka?[o̞ ɡẽ̞ŋʲkʲi de̞sɨ̥ ka̠]
How are you? In Japanese is expressed as お元気ですか (o-genki desu ka?).
This phrase is a polite greeting used to ask about someone's health and general well-being. Unlike the English "How are you?", お元気ですか is typically used when you have not seen someone for a period of time rather than as a daily greeting.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "Are you well?" or "Are you healthy?"
Which one should you use?
While お元気ですか is used to check on well-being, こんにちは is a standard, time-specific greeting used for "Hello" or "Good afternoon". For asking "How's it going?", you can use the informal phrase 調子はどう？
How do you pronounce it?
o-genki desu ka?
When do people say it?
A common and natural response to this question is はい、元気です, which means "Yes, I am well." The word 元気 means "fine" or "energetic".
Did you know?
- In a business context, people often replace this phrase with お世話になっております, which translates to 'I am in your care'. This acknowledges the ongoing professional relationship instead of asking about personal health.
- If you use お元気ですか to a close friend you see every single day, it can actually sound strangely distant or even imply you suspect something is wrong with them.
- The word 元気 is composed of two kanji characters meaning 'spirit' and 'origin'. To be 'well' in Japanese is literally to have your original spirit or life energy intact.
Examples in context
- お元気ですか？How are you?
- 最近いかがお過ごしですか？How have you been recently?
- 調子はどう？How's it going?
- 先生、お元気ですか。Sensei, ogenki desu ka.Teacher, how are you?
- 最近、お元気ですか。Saikin, ogenki desu ka.How have you been lately?
Example conversation
Hiroto meets Misaki after a long time at a cafe.
- 大翔 Hiroto美咲さん、お元気ですか。Misaki-san, ogenki desu ka.Misaki, how are you?
- 美咲 Misakiはい、とても元気です。Hai, totemo genki desu.Yes, I am very well.
- 大翔 Hirotoそれは良かったです。Sore wa yokatta desu.That is good to hear.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔さんも元気ですか。Hiroto-san mo genki desu ka.Are you doing well too, Hiroto?
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry お元気ですか, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
