You probably haven’t heard of this expression if you’re just starting to learn Japanese. Most Japanese textbooks teach you genki desu ka as the first phrase. The most common greetings in Japanese are phrases like this. It is a phrase that every Japanese learner has heard at some point during their studies.
Today we will look at how to use the super common phrase “genki deus ka” (元気ですか) in Japanese.
What does genki desu ka mean in Japanese
Genki itself is an adjective, as is the word genki.
元 (げん, gen) — an occurrence that begins, appears, or develops
気 (き, ki) — the spirit, mind, atmosphere, air, mood, and energy
In English, if you ask someone “How are you” the answer might be a variety of things, right?
It is often used to describe older people who are in good spirits and young at heart despite their advanced age. Genki can be used as a greeting or as an adjective in spoken Japanese. I am amazed at the results, I am not happy with them, etc. It is fundamentally different from the original interpretation, even though it differs from it. Most of the time, this is translated as “how are you?”.
How can I use Genki desu ka(げんきですか) in Japanese?
An interaction with someone should be introduced with “Genki desu ka (げんきですか).
How can you incorporate “genki desu ka” into your speech?
1.
A: おはようございます
Good morning
B: 元気ですか。
How are you ?
2.
A: こんにちは
Good day
B: 元気ですか。
How are you ?
3.
こんばんは
Good Evening
B: 元気ですか。
How are you ?
By inflecting your voice upward, you can say “Genki” more casually and naturally between friends. Your request would be more casual if you were speaking with friends, but more formal if you were speaking to colleagues or acquaintances you don’t know well.
If you disagree, then you could say 元気ではない Genki de wa nai”.
This sentence can be rephrased in a few different ways.
You may simply say 元気です。 Genki is the Japanese word for “I am fine”. Once you have that first phrase out of the way, you can move on to 元気です。 to initiate the conversation. Is there anything I need to do now?
genki desu ka – how to answer
As a result, when talking to friends, you may say things a little differently to sound natural.
Your teachers and friends will often ask you ” genki desu ka”, so what is the correct response to this greeting? In most textbooks, this is the way it is presented – but between friends it seems unnatural.
1.
A: おはようございます
Good morning
B: 元気ですか。
How are you ?
A：はい、元気ですよ。
Yes, I’m fine.
2.
A: おはようございます
Good morning
B: 元気ですか。
How are you ?
A：いいえ、元気ではありません。
No,I’m not fine.
You could also disagree and say 元気ではありません。 “Genki de wa arimasen” which means “I’m not fine”. if you are feeling “genki” you can say, “元気です” which simply means, “yeah, I’m fine”.
How to use Genki naturally with friends
You would state your request in a more casual way for friends, but for colleagues you don’t know well, or acquaintances. You can say “Genki” in a more casual and natural way between friends by inflecting your voice upward.
It’s a great day for you, friend.
さとうさん 元気 ?
Satou san genki ” In an upward question tone
Satou
元気だよ
Genki dayo
In this way, the phrase implies your closeness to the person.
You can use this pattern when you want to tell someone you are ill:
元気じゃない。
genki jya nai
I’m not well. (casual)
Genki is used in Japanese in the following basic ways. You are a total beginner in Japanese.
What does O Genki desu ka Is Ogenki desu ka polite
O genki desu ka is a phrase in Japanese that means “How are you? When translated in english. O Genki desu ka and Genki desu ka have the same meaning. How are you ?
But O Genki desu ka is a more polite way to say it with your teacher , your boss or someone you are not familiar or senior to as well. The prefix “o” is an honorific and is reserved for others. “O-genki desu ka” is the most polite expression
1.
A: おはようございます
Good morning
B: お元気ですか。
How are you ?
A：いいえ、元気ではありません。
No,I’m not fine.
2.
A: おはようございます
Good morning
B: お元気ですか。
How are you ?
A：はい、元気でです。
No,I’m not fine.
The prefix “o” is an honorific and is reserved for others. “O-genki desu ka” is the most polite expression. When you respond you should not say O-genki desu. You can say Genki desu.
And There is another way to respond
A: おはようございます
Good morning
B: お元気ですか。
How are you ?
A：はい、おかげさまで、元気でです。
No,I’m not fine.(Thanks to you, I’m fine).
Okagesamade is a Japanese expression used to express appreciation for someone’s assistance that leads to a positive outcome.
How To Say “Hello, How Are You” In Japanese
こんにちは。お元気(げんき)ですか。
Hello. How are you?
In Japanese, Konnichiwa means “good afternoon”. Once a greeting sentence (today, we say…), it has now evolved to its shortened form, hello.
I’m fine, thanks for asking. If you would like to reply, please say
はい、元気(げんき)です (I’m fine).
おかげさまで、元気(げんき)です “Okagesama de genki desu” (thank you for your kind words, I am fine) would be a more polite way to reply. When you okagesamade, you were grateful for the assistance of others that resulted in a successful outcome.
Taking it literally is not necessary as it is a common response to Ogenki desu ka.