How to ask and answer 'How are you' in Vietnamese

GrammarUpdated: November 7th, 2022
TABLE OF CONTENTS

In this lesson, we'll learn when and how to ask How are you in Vietnamese.

If you meet that person regularly

Do you know that Vietnamese don't usually ask How are you as a greeting?

While people still ask Bạn khoẻ không?, they use it when they haven't meet that person for a while.

Instead, you can use Chào + name/ pronounce to greet someone.

If you haven't meet them for a while

There are a few ways to ask about the current situations.

EXAMPLE
Dạo này bạn thế nào?
How are you lately?
Dạo này bạn sao rồi?
How are you doing lately?
Bạn tốt chứ?
Are you doing well?
Công việc bạn thế nào?
How is your jobs?
Gia đình bạn thế nào?
How is your family?

You can change between thế nào and sao rồi and the meaning is still the same.

How to reply to How are you?

To reply, you can use:

EXAMPLE
Vẫn bình thường
Still normal
Vẫn tốt
Still good
Vẫn khoẻ
Still healthy/ good
Vẫn vậy
Still the same
Không tốt lắm
Not good
Bận lắm
Very busy

To ask back

To ask back, you can use the expression còn + pronoun.

EXAMPLE
Còn bạn thì sao?
How about you?
Còn bạn?
And you?

Example conversation

CONVERSATION
A:
Lâu rồi không gặp. Dạo này bạn thế nào?
Long time no see. How do you do?
B:
Mình vẫn khoẻ. Còn bạn?
I'm good. And you?
A:
Mình cũng vậy.
Me too.
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About Ha Truong

Ha is a writer, web-developer and keen language learner.
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