Meaning of How Are You and How to Respond Correctly

Kapanlagi.com - Not only in Indonesia, apparently small talk is also a common thing to do abroad. One of them is by asking how are you. Yes, the meaning of how are you itself is a question to ask about someone's well-being.

However, not only by using how are you to ask about someone's well-being, there are also other questions with the same meaning. And there are various ways to respond to it.

Although how are you seems like a simple question, it carries a deeper meaning. Not only that, through this article, you will also learn the detailed meaning of how are you and its proper usage, as well as how to respond to it.

1. The Use of the Phrase How Are You

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We know that the meaning of how are you is a way for someone to ask about our well-being. But do you know how to properly use how are you? Actually, how are you is used in a situation that tends to inquire about the things happening around you, such as your activities today or during the past day.

Now, what about how are you doing? Does it have the same meaning as how are you? Yes, both expressions have the same meaning. The only difference is the situation. The phrase how are you doing is more commonly used when meeting a friend you haven't seen in a long time. Although it can also be used in situations about the surroundings or today.

2. Responses to How Are You

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After knowing the meaning of how are you and its proper usage, of course, we need to know what answers we can use. You don't have to answer "fine" only, KLovers. There are still many other answers that you can use for the question how are you. Here are some answers that you can give when someone asks how are you:

1. Very Well

The first answer you can give is very well. When you are feeling excited and happy, you can answer with very well. The answer to how are you means very good.

2. I'm Great

Next, for the second answer to how are you, there is I'm great. Yes, this answer has a similar meaning to very well. The only difference is the impression it gives when you say it, which will appear more enthusiastic or excited.

3. Not Bad

Unlike the previous answer for how are you, not bad means decent or not bad. You can use it when you feel somewhere between good and bad or just average.

4. So-so

Similar to the answer not bad, the answer so-so means not too good and not too bad. So you are in a normal situation, nothing special or bad.

5.I'm Hanging in There

Next there is the answer I'm hanging in there. When you are still holding on in a difficult and tiring day, you can use this phrase when someone asks about your condition.

6.I've Been Better

I've been better can be said when you are not in a good condition. Literally, I've been better means I used to be better. When you answer with this phrase, be prepared to tell a story.

3. Alternative Phrases for How Are You

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And the last one is a replacement sentence for how are you. Yup! To ask about someone's condition, you don't have to use how are you, KLovers. There are many ways you can ask about someone's condition. Although it seems different, this question has the same meaning as how are you. Here are some other replacement sentences for how are you that you can use:

1.How have you been?

This replacement sentence is suitable for asking about someone's condition whom you haven't seen for quite a long time. This sentence is the same as how are you doing ya KLovers.

2.How are things?

This question is used to ask about the news to someone who used to be close or is currently close to you. Although this sentence does not directly ask about the news. However, you can use it when you want to know if various things in the speaker's life are okay.

3.How's your day?

Usually, this question is used by someone when you are chatting and the day is about to end. When you ask this to someone, you want to know what happened to them throughout the day.How's your day? itself means, "how is your day?". If how are you? sounds more general or common, then the sentence how's your day? asks about someone's news in a specific time.

4.What is new with you?

You can also use this question when you want to ask about someone's news. This question specifically asks if there is anything new happening in the person's life.

5.You okay?

And the last one is the question you okay? You can use this sentence for someone who is really close. Because the phrase 'how are you' is considered informal. You can use the question 'are you okay' to close friends, family, or partners.

That is the meaning of 'how are you' along with its appropriate usage. Not only the meaning of 'how are you', but you can also find out the response to 'how are you' and other similar questions with the same meaning.

(kpl/gen/dhm)