'How are you?' that doesn't sound textbook
By the end you'll ask how someone is and answer naturally instead of the textbook お元気ですか.
- 1
元気?
genki?
Casual 'you good?' between friends.
Use when greeting a friend you haven't seen in a while
久しぶり!元気?
hisashiburi! genki?
Long time! How are you?
- 2
調子どう?
choushi dou?
Casual 'how's it going?' that asks about your current state.
Use when asking a friend or colleague how things are going
最近、調子どう?
saikin, choushi dou?
How's it been lately?
- 3
まあまあです
maamaa desu
A polite 'so-so' that's honest without oversharing.
Use when answering when things aren't great but you don't want to complain
まあまあですね、忙しくて。
maamaa desu ne, isogashikute.
So-so, things are busy.
Saved phrases collect at practice → saved; quiz them and they enter your review queue.