Lesson 3: How are you?

How are you?

Situation: Mr. Smith and Ms. Mori ask how the other is doing.

スミス:森さん、お元気ですか。
Mori-san, ogenki desu ka.

森: はい、おかげさまで。        
Hai, okage-sama de.

スミスさんは。                          
Smith-san wa.

スミス:ありがとうございます。
Arigatou gozaimasu.

私も元気です。                          
Watashi mo genki desu.

Smith: How are you, Ms. Mori?

Mori: Thanks to you, [i'm good].

and you,  Smith?

Haan: Thanks, i'm fine.

Description

おかげさまで 　okage-sama de

means "Thanks to you". Literally means something like "because of your shadow".  As if he was doing something without you knowing that leads to your own well-being, even if it may not be related. 

Other useful phrases

ありがとう                      Arigatou                   Thanks 

ありがとうございます  Arigatou gozaimasu Thank you (more formal than Arigatou)

どういたしまして          Dou itashimashite    You are welcome