Greetings & goodbyes
How to say How are you in Chinese
你好吗
nǐ hǎo ma
Literally: you · good · (question)
你好吗 (nǐ hǎo ma) is the “how are you” every textbook teaches. It’s perfectly correct, though native speakers reach for 你怎么样 (nǐ zěnmeyàng) or 最近怎么样 more often in real conversation.
Other ways to say it
- 你怎么样
nǐ zěnmeyàng
how’s it going
More natural and casual than 你好吗 for people you already know.
- 最近怎么样
zuìjìn zěnmeyàng
how have you been lately
Asks about the recent stretch — great for someone you haven’t seen in a while.
- 您好吗
nín hǎo ma
how are you (polite)
The respectful 您 version, for elders or formal settings.
- 吃了吗
chī le ma
have you eaten?
A traditional friendly greeting — really just “how are you,” not a dinner invitation.
In a sentence
你好吗？我很好，谢谢。
Nǐ hǎo ma? Wǒ hěn hǎo, xièxie.
How are you? I’m fine, thanks.
How do you say "How are you" in Chinese?
To say “how are you” in Chinese, say 你好吗 (nǐ hǎo ma). To sound more natural, ask 你怎么样 (nǐ zěnmeyàng), “how’s it going.”
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