Bạn khỏe không? — Asking how someone is

What you will learn

You will learn the basic pattern ... khỏe không?, several useful answers, and an important cultural point: Vietnamese greetings do not always copy the English “How are you?” routine.

1. The basic question

Bạn khỏe không? means “Are you well?” and is commonly translated as “How are you?”

Replace bạn when another form of address is more suitable:

• Anh khỏe không?
• Chị khỏe không?
• Cô khỏe không?

2. Basic answers

• Tôi khỏe. — I’m well.
• Tôi khỏe, cảm ơn. — I’m well, thank you.
• Cũng khỏe. — Pretty well / also well.
• Cũng bình thường. — Okay / as usual.
• Hơi mệt. — A little tired.

3. A short conversation

Minh: Chào chị. Dạo này chị khỏe không?

Hoa: Chị khỏe. Còn em?

Minh: Em cũng khỏe. Dạo này em hơi bận.

Hoa: Công việc nhiều à?

Minh: Dạ, hơi nhiều.

4. Dạo này — lately

Dạo này means “lately / these days”. It makes the question more like asking about someone’s recent condition:

Dạo này anh khỏe không? — How have you been lately?

5. Vietnamese greetings can look like questions

People may greet someone with:

• Ăn cơm chưa? — Have you eaten?
• Đi đâu đấy? — Where are you going?
• Mới về à? — Just got back?

In many everyday situations, these are friendly social openings. The speaker may not expect a detailed report.

6. Useful vocabulary

• khỏe — healthy / well
• bình thường — normal / usual
• hơi — a little / somewhat
• mệt — tired
• dạo này — lately
• bận — busy
• công việc — work
• nhiều — much / many
• mới về — just returned

7. Common beginner mistake

Do not assume you must ask Bạn khỏe không? every time you meet someone. It is useful Vietnamese, but natural greetings are more varied and depend on familiarity and situation.

8. Vietnam in real life

Questions about eating, movement and daily life can function as signs of familiarity and care. Learners may interpret them as intrusive if they translate only the literal words. Listen to how much detail native speakers actually give in response.

Try it

1. Ask an older male how he is using anh.
2. Answer: “I’m a little tired.”
3. Add dạo này to the question.
4. Practice a short answer to Ăn cơm chưa?

Quick recap

... khỏe không? is a useful basic question. Real Vietnamese greetings are broader: they often connect to everyday life, relationships and context.