O genki desu ka is a Japanese phrase “How are you?”
If you have been learning Japanese for any time, you have likely heard this phrase.
In many Japanese learning textbooks – お元気ですか is one of the first phrases that you will learn. This is true for our Japanese lessons as well.
It is so common for beginner learners to use this phrase that there is even a Japanese learning textbook called “Genki.” (We use this textbook series in our intensive courses as well.)
In this blog, we will teach you about the phrase “O genki desu ka” and show you how to use it when speaking Japanese.
Coto Academy is a Japanese language school located in Tokyo and Yokohama. With its small class sizes and flexible course schedule, we ensure the students find their community here in Japan and learn practical and useful daily-life Japanese by focusing on conversational practice.
What does O genki desu ka mean in Japanese
The word genki is written in Japanese kanji as 元気
This is a combination of two Kanji that are nouns – and the word genki is a na adjective.
- 元 (げん, gen) — beginning, origin, foundation, the source of something
- 気 (き, ki) — energy, spirit, mind, air, breath, atmosphere, mood
When you put the words together – the word genki means “lively, full of spirit, energetic, vigorous, vital, healthy, well, fit, in good health.”
Often, younger people describe their elders as “Genki.” This means that even though someone is advanced in years, they are still in good spirits and young at heart.
So, there are several ways to use Genki as both a greeting and an adjective in spoken Japanese.
O genki desu ka – how to answer
In Japanese, your teachers and friends often ask you the following question: “O genki desu ka.” What is the correct response to this greeting?
- お元気ですか?
O genki desu ka
How are you? - 元気です
genki desu.
I am well
When someone asks you if you are genki, you can simply say, ” Genki desu.” In English, the equivalent would be something like.
“How are you?” – “I’m Good.”
If you would like to answer this question in the negative – you can also do that with the following sentences:
- 元気ではありません。
Genki de wa arimasen
I am not well. (formal way of saying it) - 元気じゃないです。
Genki jya nai desu
I am not well. (another formal way of saying it)
This is how it appears in most textbooks – but using the desu would seem unnatural between friends.
So, when speaking with friends, you would say things slightly differently to sound natural.
Using Genki Naturally with Friends
The above example is fine for situations where you are asking a colleague you don’t know well or an acquaintance, but for friends, you would state it more casually.
To make it more casual and natural when chatting with friends, you may say “Genki” with an upward voice inflection.
- Your Friend:
“Sam-San, Genki?”
”サムさん、元気?” <—With an upward question tone of voice - You:
“Genki”
元気。
This is a more natural way to call and respond with this phrase as it signifies that you are close to the person.
If you want to tell someone that you aren’t well you can use the following pattern:
- 元気じゃない。
genki jya nai
I’m not well. (casual)
You can use These basic constructions when using the term genki in Japanese.
If you are a total beginner in Japanese – connect with us for a free level check and interview – we offer private, part-time, and intensive Japanese lessons