**How to say "How are you?" in Japanese**

In Japanese, the phrase "How are you?" can be expressed as "お元気ですか？" (O-genki desu ka?). This phrase is a common way to ask someone about their well-being or how they are doing. Let's break down the phrase and explain it in detail:

**1. お (O)**
The first part of the phrase is "お" (O), which is an honorific prefix commonly used in Japanese. It is added to certain words to show politeness and respect towards the person you are speaking to.

**2. 元気 (genki)**
The next word in the phrase is "元気" (genki), which means "well-being" or "health" in English. It is used to inquire about someone's overall condition or state of being.

**3. です (desu)**
After the word "genki," we have "です" (desu), which is a copula verb in Japanese. It is often used to connect the subject and predicate in a sentence, and it functions as a polite form of "to be" in English.

**4. か (ka)**
Finally, we have "か" (ka), which is a question particle in Japanese. It is added at the end of a sentence to indicate that the sentence is a question. In this case, it turns the phrase "O-genki desu" into a question, asking "Are you well?"

Overall, when you say "お元気ですか？" (O-genki desu ka?), you are politely asking someone about their well-being or how they are doing. It is a common greeting in Japanese and shows that you care about the other person's health and happiness.

Remember to use this phrase in appropriate situations and with people you have a formal or polite relationship with. In more casual settings, you can use alternative greetings like "元気？" (Genki?) or "調子はどう？" (Choushi wa dou?).