How to Say ‘Have you been well?’ in Japanese
お元気でしたか。
o genki deshi ta ka
[o Genki deh-shee tah kah]
💬 Usage Tip: The past form でした asks about the whole stretch since you last met, not just today. Use it after time apart; お元気ですか is a plain "how are you?"
🇯🇵 In Japan: This is the natural opener when you see in-laws after a while. It's polite without being stiff.
Phrase Breakdown
お
o
[o]
polite prefix
Prefix added for politeness.
お名前は？
What is your name?
元気
genki
[Genki]
good health
Refers to being in good health.
最近、元気ですか？
How have you been lately?
でし
deshi
[deh-shee]
was (polite) part
Part of でした, the polite past form of です.
昨日はだめでした。
It was no good yesterday.
た
ta
[tah]
past tense marker
Indicates past tense.
彼は来た。
He came.
か
ka
[kah]
question particle
か turns the sentence into a polite question.
行きますかと聞きました。
I asked, 'Will you go?'
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