調子どう？

• Reading: ちょうしどう
• Romaji: choushi dou
• Kanji breakdown: 調 (tune/regulate) + 子 (condition) + どう (how) → how is your condition/state?
• Pronunciation: /tɕoː.ɕi.doː/

Meaning

How's it going? How are things? — a casual check-in on someone's condition or situation.

While 元気？ asks about general wellbeing, 調子どう？ asks more specifically about someone's current condition, performance, or situation. It can refer to health, work, a project, or even how a game is going. It is a versatile casual check-in that invites the other person to share what is on their mind.

Examples

1. 最近調子どう？仕事忙しい？ How's it going lately? Busy with work?
2. 体の調子どう？もう治った？ How are you feeling? All better now?
3. 新しい職場の調子どう？ How are things at the new job?

Usage Guide

Context: friends, casual acquaintances, catch-up conversations

Tone: friendly, interested

Do Say

• 調子どう？なんか最近大変そうだけど (How's it going? You seem like you've been having a rough time lately)
• 調子どう？元気にしてた？ (How are things? Have you been doing well?)

Don't Say

• 目上の人には「お加減いかがですか」「ご調子はいかがですか」など丁寧な言い方を使う (With superiors, use polite forms like お加減いかがですか)

Common Mistakes

• Using 調子どう？ in very formal situations — it is a casual expression
• Confusing 調子 with 調整 (adjustment) — 調子 refers to condition or state

Origin & History

From 調子 (choushi, condition/state/form) + どう (dou, how). A straightforward casual question about someone's current state. Standard colloquial Japanese.

Cultural Context

Era: Longstanding casual expression

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal casual

Regional notes: Used nationwide. A natural follow-up to 久しぶり or a standalone check-in greeting.