元気？

• 読み: げんき
• ローマ字: genki
• 漢字の分解: 元 (origin/source) + 気 (spirit/energy) → vital energy, wellness
• 発音: /ɡeŋ.ki/

意味

How are you? / You doing okay? — a casual way to check on someone.

While お元気ですか is the textbook 'how are you,' the casual 元気？ is what Japanese speakers actually use with friends. Unlike English 'how are you' which is often just a greeting, 元気？ often carries genuine concern — the speaker actually wants to know if you are doing well. It is especially common when reconnecting with someone after time apart.

例文

1. 久しぶり！元気？
2. 最近元気？なんか顔色悪くない？
3. 元気？今度飲みに行こうよ。

使い方ガイド

場面: friends, casual encounters, texting, reunions

トーン: caring, friendly

正しい言い方

• 元気？最近全然会ってなかったね (How are you? We haven't met up at all lately)
• 元気だった？心配してたよ (Have you been well? I was worried about you)

避ける言い方

• 初対面のフォーマルな場面では「お元気ですか」を使う (In formal first-meeting situations, use お元気ですか)

よくある間違い

• Responding with a long answer like in English — a simple 元気！ or うん、元気 is the expected response
• Using 元気？ with strangers or in formal settings — お元気ですか is needed

起源と歴史

From 元気 (genki, health/energy/vitality), composed of 元 (origin) + 気 (spirit). Literally asking 'do you have energy/vitality?' Used as a casual greeting/check-in for generations.

文化的背景

時代: Traditional, longstanding usage

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal

地域メモ: Used across all of Japan. Unlike the English 'how are you,' 元気？ often implies genuine interest in the other person's wellbeing.