🇯🇵 Japanese phrases

How to Say "How are you?" in Japanese

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
お元気ですか
"How are you?" in Japanese · say it like oh-gen-kee desu ka

The most natural way to say "How are you?" in Japanese is お元気ですか. Tap the speaker above to hear it, then say it back out loud. That is the fastest way to make it stick.

Other ways to say it

元気?
A casual way to ask among friends.
いかがですか
A more formal way to ask.

When to use it

Use this phrase when you want to check on someone's well-being. It is appropriate in both casual and formal situations. You can use it when meeting someone after a while or when starting a conversation.

Say it out loud, get corrected

Reading it is not the same as saying it. Practice "How are you?" and thousands more with an AI coach that listens.

Examples in Japanese

JapaneseEnglish
お久しぶりです。お元気ですか?It's been a while. How are you?
Common mistake
Some learners might forget to use the polite form when speaking to someone they don't know well.

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear お元気ですか, repeat it a few times, then use it in a real sentence. SPAIKING lets you practice exactly that, speaking Japanese with a coach that corrects your pronunciation in real time. You can start with two free conversations.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use this phrase with anyone?

It's best to use it with people you know or in polite situations.

Learn Japanese by speaking it

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