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How to Say ‘Are you well?’ in Japanese

元気ですか

genki desu ka

[gen-kee dess kah]

💬 Usage Tip: [元気ですか] is used for asking how someone is doing, not just whether they are literally healthy. You can swap in other subjects easily: [お義母さんは元気ですか] = "How is your mother-in-law?"

Phrase Breakdown

元気

genki

[gen-kee]

well; healthy; energetic

元気 describes being healthy, well, or full of energy. It is very common in greetings and family updates.

Example

お義父さんは元気です。

My father-in-law is well.

です

desu

[dess]

is; am; are

です is a polite copula used to make statements polite, like is or are in English.

Example

今日は静かです。

It is quiet today.

ka

[kah]

question marker

か is placed at the end of a sentence to make it a polite question.

Example

お姉さんも来ますか。

Is your older sister coming too?

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