How do you do?

Question

1-Reporter1: Hi! How do you do?Reporter2: Pleased to meet you.Reporter1: Today we are talking to people about their personal identity.---2-Woman: How do you do?Man: How do you do?Woman: Oh, very well, thank you,and you?---3-Woman: Yes, my first name is Frankie and my last name is Stone.How do you do?Man: How do you do?Woman: Pleased to meet you!Man: Pleased to meet you!-----------------------------------------------What does "How do you do?" mean in these dialogues?Does it mean "How are you?"?Thank you

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

rezaenglishReporter1: Hi! How do you do?

This is not very English. It's unidiomatic, unnatural.

You would never go up to someone you know and say "Hi! How do you do?" because you don't say "Hi!" to people you don't know, and you don't say "How do you do?" to people you do know.

"How do you do?" is a very old and formal formula used when you are introduced to someone for the first time. It has no other meaning, though it is — or used to be — a way of saying "How are you?"

Personally, I almost never say "How do you do?"

An example of a formal introduction:

Susan: Mr Brown, this is my friend George.
Mr Brown: How do you do?
George: How do you do?

Less formally, Mr Brown and George would say "Nice to meet you".

CJ

How do you do?

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