How Are You? What It Means To You?
By HULYO
@julyteen (13252)
Davao, Philippines
July 21, 2010 5:32pm CST
In my work place everytime we passed in any corner, offices or even our guest we also ask this couple of words "How Are You?" I got different answer from different people. In my origin country which is Philippines if somebody say this words " we immediately answer "I'm fine! Thank you." But here, I always heard from different races that when I say how are you they say "I'm good" I am confused what is the best words to answer this greetings.
In the Philippines our words for "How are you?" is "Kumusta ka? then we answer "Mabuti" means "FINE".
Mylotters:
How you answer if somebody use this as greetings to you and what is your local words for this? A sort of education for as to know some greetings from all over the world.
Can you share with me and to other mylotters guys?
16 responses
@PurpleSarah (2)
•
22 Jul 10
I think 'How are you?' is a term people sometimes use when they don't even care too much how the other person is, it is like a hello, a greeting. People answer 'I'm fine thanks' even when they are not.
In Australia they say 'How ya going?' almost as a hello in some cases. Anyway in reference to your question I just say 'good thanks, what about you?' I always seem to ask them back. Depending on my mood I may say, I'm Cold, I'm tired, Stressed. :)
@julyteen (13252)
• Davao, Philippines
22 Jul 10
i think all over the world it's a normal way of greeting people either you know them or not. It's away of starting a conversation if the person you you greet is not on hurry but in our case we always on hurry and no time to stay even 10 minutes talking with the guest or fellow associates.
@neelianoscet (9615)
• Philippines
22 Jul 10
I interpret it as a warm greeting. Also as an ice breaker to stimulate more conversation and to those who like to inquire a lot. that is a good introductory words to say. same response with you mention I do the same things when somebody ask me the same question.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
21 Jul 10
julyteen yes we do that here in the Us, we ask how are you
and usually expect the familar fine or good. sometimes when I get too
'may how are yous I start to ask , do you really want to know?
then I will say my blood sugar is too high, I am tired and have
a headache but I am okay how are you? they will give you a dazed
look and may say tmi which maybe you know means too much information
and of course it was. I usually do not do that except to my best
friend who really does want to know.I really would love to hear
'other greetinds.aloha in Hawaiin means hello and goodbye too.
@churchill1980 (764)
• Philippines
2 Aug 10
hi! i just want to share my idea about it. you may answer this question with whatever you felt, but the difference between using "im fine" and "i'm good" is that when you say "i'm fine", it means that you just get well from a sickness. so you may use those words when you had been sick and just recover from it, that's why you say "i'm fine. but when you are having a good health and there's nothing wrong with it, you will answer "i'm ok". that's just what i learned from one of the seminars i attended, i hope it somehow helps.
@arakawaii (270)
• Philippines
22 Jul 10
Me too, I answer I'm fine, whenever someone ask how I am lately I would always say I'm fine and reply back with "how are you too" it feels great when someone you know would ask you how are you doin, for me it shows concern and care.
@jennyze (7028)
• Indonesia
22 Jul 10
"I am fine, thank you. And, how are you?" That is how we taught at school. Of course that is the correct expression and you can use it to any people from different countries whose English is their native language.
"I am good" is basically an American dialect. When I said this to an Australian, he raised an eyebrow.
So, now I changed it with: "I am well. Thank you."
@manilatop10 (371)
• Philippines
22 Jul 10
How are you, while a common courtesy can be accomplished with a smile or a genuine look from the eyes; in my view, it is indeed more of a greeting, perhaps mindless that doesn't require the question mark at the end.
Of course, there are many views to take on this topic.
I suggest that you explore many possible responses to determine what works best for your personality in any given situation ... i.e. reply with How are you and add a title or personalized ending.
Eric
@princesslawyer0515 (270)
• Philippines
22 Jul 10
"I'm fine" or "Mabuti" is perhaps the most insincere way to respond to "How are you?", but if you really are OK, then it just might be the best word. Haha! I don't answer that way when I'm feeling something else. I say "badtrip", or "not that ok"... those sort of replies which are a little revealing but honest. But whenever I am in a serious conversation and the person I'm talking to asks me that, it usually means the person wants to know more than a simple "I'm ok".
@bluemoonpavilion (4658)
• Singapore
22 Jul 10
I have always thought this is just a cursory greeting for mere aquaintances and strangers, so I would reply with a "I'm fine", "Quite good", "Not bad", depending on the mood then, and I would usually ask them right back. 
For people I am more familiar with, I would think they are really interested in knowing the answer, so I would tell them more details.
For people I am more familiar with, I would think they are really interested in knowing the answer, so I would tell them more details. 
@meeksilent (514)
• Philippines
23 Jul 10
yeah we often say wer'e "okay" here in the philippines. Well, i think its just a respectful way of acknowledging the presence of other people so not to think that those people who won't greet are snobs.
@carpediem17 (1315)
• Singapore
22 Jul 10
Personally I feel it is just a greeting amongst people (even sometimes to strangers that we see everyday at the bus-stop), a kind of acknowledgement besides "Good morning".
I guess if we greet our friends, especially the closer ones, it is an opportunity or opener for them to tell us some good or bad news!!
@4mymak (1793)
• Malaysia
22 Jul 10
i think in all the english lessons, wherever we are, we have always been 'taught' the 'standard / correct reply' to that question is : 'I'm fine, thank you!'..
but i usually vary the response myself - ..
'I'm great', 'I'm very well',.. 'I'm okay'..
and also depending on how i am 'truly' feeling at that time.. the response could be :
'I dont feel too good..' ,'I'm feeling sick', 'I'm tired..' etc..
the local expression for 'how are you' ? = 'APA KHABAR?'
and the normal response would be = 'KHABAR BAIK'
@TheAdvocate (2392)
• Philippines
22 Jul 10
My answer to this greeting is dependent on my mood. Most days I usually just say "great" when my day is middling to great. But when it's really bad, I would roll my eyes.
Like you, I find it confusing to answer this question when most days its just a greeting. So I usually make this greeting first to avoid answering it. 
