How have you been
Conversation phrases, Stage 1chunk 27 of 68Small talk
Open a catch-up by asking how someone's doing.
- saikin dou?how's it going lately?
- choushi dou?how are you doing?; how's it going?
- saikin isogashii?been busy lately?
- genki datta?how have you been?
- nanika kawatta koto atta?anything new with you?
Mix-ups genki datta? (been well since we last met) vs genki? (are you well).
saikin dou?
polite saikin dou desu ka
how's it going lately?
Opens a catch-up with a friend or coworker; answer with a bit of news, or maa maa (so-so).
The closest thing to English 'how are you?' for people you see often.
saikin dou? shigoto isogashii?
How's it going? Busy with work?
最近どう？仕事忙しい？
saikin dou desu ka? oshigoto wa isogashii desu ka?
How have things been? Is work busy?
最近どうですか？お仕事は忙しいですか？
Written 最近どう？ · さいきんどう · 最近どうですかWho you say it and hear itHeard 35× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
choushi dou?
polite choushi wa dou desu ka?
how are you doing?; how's it going?
A casual greeting between friends or coworkers; answer with bochibochi, aikawarazu da yo or genki da yo.
Also asks about one specific thing: ashi no choushi dou? (how's your leg?).
oo, saikin choushi dou? isogashii?
Hey, how's it going lately? Busy?
おー、最近調子どう？忙しい？
ohisashiburi desu. saikin choushi wa dou desu ka?
It's been a while. How have you been lately?
お久しぶりです。最近調子はどうですか？
Written 調子どう？ · ちょうしどう？ · 調子はどうですか？Who you say it and hear itHeard 523× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
saikin isogashii?
polite saikin isogashii desu ka?
been busy lately?
An easy opener when you run into someone; a vague answer is fine.
Typical answers: maa ne ('yeah, kind of') or sou demo nai ('not really').
saikin isogashii? zenzen aenai ne.
Been busy lately? We never get to see each other.
最近忙しい？全然会えないね。
saikin isogashii desu ka? shibaraku aemasen deshita ne.
Have you been busy? We haven't seen each other in a while.
最近忙しいですか？しばらく会えませんでしたね。
Written 最近忙しい？ · さいきんいそがしい？ · 最近忙しいですか？Who you say it and hear itHeard 1× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
genki datta?
polite ogenki deshita ka
how have you been?
To someone you haven't seen for a while; answer un, genki datta yo, or with your news.
Only after a gap; for someone you saw last week, use saikin dou?
uwa, hisashiburi! genki datta?
Wow, long time no see! How've you been?
うわ、久しぶり！元気だった？
ohisashiburi desu. ogenki deshita ka?
It's been a long time. How have you been?
お久しぶりです。お元気でしたか？
Written 元気だった？ · げんきだった · お元気でしたかWho you say it and hear itHeard 165× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
nanika kawatta koto atta?
polite nanika kawatta koto arimashita ka?
anything new with you?
Asked when you catch up after time apart; if nothing's new, answer toku ni nai yo or aikawarazu da yo.
Kawatta koto means 'anything different'; kawatta hito means 'an odd person'.
hisashiburi da ne. nanika kawatta koto atta?
It's been a while. Anything new with you?
久しぶりだね。何か変わったことあった？
saikin, nanika kawatta koto arimashita ka?
Has anything new happened lately?
最近、何か変わったことありましたか？
Written 何か変わったことあった？ · なにかかわったことあった？ · 何か変わったことありましたか？Who you say it and hear itHeard 40× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles