How Are You in Japanese: Formal and Informal Ways for Greetings

How to ask "how are you" when learning Japanese? Good news: there are actually tons of ways to say it, and which one you use depends entirely on who you're talking to and where you are. You've got formal versions for your boss, casual versions for your friends, and everything in between. I'm going to walk you through all the main ways to ask how someone's doing in Japanese, when to use each one, and how to respond when someone asks you. By the end, you'll know exactly which phrase to pull out in any situation.

The most common way: Genki desu ka

Let's start with the phrase most Japanese learners encounter first: ？

This translates pretty directly to "how are you" or more literally "are you well?" The word "genki" means energetic, healthy, or doing well. "Desu" is a polite copula (basically a linking verb), and "ka" makes it a question.

You'd spell it in romaji as "genki desu ka" and it sounds like "gen-kee dess kah."

This phrase sits right in the middle of the politeness spectrum. You can use it with coworkers, acquaintances, people you meet for the first time, or really anyone you want to be polite but not super formal with. Think of it as your default "how are you" for everyday situations in Japan.

How to respond to genki desu ka

The standard response is , which means "I'm fine" or "I'm doing well." Just drop the "ka" from the question and you've got your answer. Pretty straightforward.

If you want to be more enthusiastic, you can say , adding "thank you" at the end. This sounds polite and friendly.

When you're honestly doing great, try , which means "I'm very well." The word "totemo" means "very" or "really."

And if you're having a rough day? means "so-so" or "I'm alright, I guess." Japanese people actually use this one a lot because the culture tends to favor modest responses over super enthusiastic ones.

Formal ways to ask how are you

When you need to step up the politeness level, Japanese has you covered. These phrases work great in professional settings, with people significantly older than you, or in any situation where you want to show extra respect.

Ogenki desu ka

The expression adds the honorific prefix "o" to "genki." This small addition bumps up the respect level considerably.

You'd use this with clients, your boss, your friend's parents, or anyone you want to show particular respect to. The "o" prefix is one of those Japanese politeness markers that makes a huge difference in how your words come across.

The pronunciation is "oh-gen-kee dess kah" and the romaji spelling is straightforward: ogenki desu ka.

Ikaga desu ka

The question means something like "how is it?" or "how are things?" This one's pretty formal and works well in business settings.

You might hear this in customer service situations too. A hotel staff member might ask , meaning "how is your stay?"

Ogenki deshita ka

The sentence uses the past tense form "deshita" instead of "desu." This translates to "have you been well?" and works perfectly when you haven't seen someone in a while.

Use this when reconnecting with a former colleague, running into an old acquaintance, or greeting someone you haven't talked to in months or years. It acknowledges the time gap naturally.

Casual ways to ask how are you

With friends, family, and people close to your age, you can drop the formality and use these more relaxed phrases.

Just genki?

The simplest casual version is just ？ with rising intonation. You literally just say the word "genki" as a question.

This works perfectly with friends, siblings, classmates, or anyone you're on casual terms with. It's quick, easy, and sounds natural.

Genki shiteru?

The question ？ means something like "are you doing well?" or "have you been good?" The "shiteru" part comes from the verb "suru" (To do) in a casual present progressive form.

This phrase feels a bit warmer and more personal than just "genki?" You'd use it with friends you actually care about and want to catch up with.

Daijobu?

The short phrase ？ technically means "are you okay?" rather than "how are you," but Japanese people use it in similar situations.

If your friend looks tired, stressed, or upset, "daijobu?" shows concern. It's like asking "you good?" in English. The response can be for "I'm okay" or for "I'm not okay."

What about hello, how are you in Japanese?

In English, we often combine our greeting with "how are you" in one breath: "Hey, how are you doing?" Japanese works similarly.

The standard hello in Japanese is , which you'd use during the daytime. So "hello, how are you" becomes .

You can also use for "good morning" followed by your chosen "how are you" phrase. In casual situations with friends, ？ works great.

The key thing to understand: Japanese people don't actually ask "how are you" as automatically as English speakers do. In Japan, you might just say konnichiwa and leave it at that, especially with strangers or in passing. The "how are you" question comes up more when you're having an actual conversation or haven't seen someone in a while.

Other useful phrases and variations

Japanese has tons of other ways to check in on someone, depending on the exact situation.

Cultural context: When and how to use these phrases

Understanding the cultural backdrop helps you use these phrases more naturally.

Japanese culture places huge importance on reading the situation and adjusting your language accordingly. The same person might require different levels of politeness depending on the setting. Your coworker might be fine with casual speech at an after-work dinner, but you'd switch to polite forms during a meeting.

Age, social status, and relationship length all factor into which phrase you choose. When in doubt, start more formal and let the other person set the tone. If they respond casually, you can often match their level.

Here's something interesting: Japanese people often don't ask "how are you" to people they see every day. If you work in the same office and saw your colleague yesterday, you'd probably just say "ohayou gozaimasu" (good morning) without adding "ogenki desu ka." The "how are you" question implies some time has passed since you last connected.

Also, Japanese communication tends toward indirectness. When someone asks "genki desu ka," they're usually being polite rather than expecting a detailed rundown of your problems. The culturally appropriate response is often "genki desu" even if you're having a mediocre day, unless you're talking to a close friend who genuinely wants to know.

Practical examples in different situations

Let me give you some real-world scenarios so you can see how these phrases work in context.

Meeting a friend for coffee:
You:
Friend: (Yeah, doing well!)

Greeting your boss at work:
You:
Boss: (Yes, I'm well, thank you.)

Running into an old classmate:
You: (Long time no see! Have you been well?)
Classmate: (Yeah, I've been good.)

Formal email to a client:
。(This uses an even more formal verb form "irasshaimasu" for maximum politeness.)

Texting a friend:
？(The elongated vowel mark makes it feel casual and friendly in text.)

Tips for Japanese learners

If you're learning Japanese and want to use these phrases naturally, here are some practical tips.

Anyway, if you're serious about learning Japanese, Migaku's browser extension and app let you look up words and phrases instantly while watching Japanese shows or reading articles. You can save expressions like these directly into your study deck. There's a 10-day free trial if you want to check it out.

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Unlock more greetings with media you enjoy!

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