Vocab question no. 18 - how to answer 'how are you?' ?

Question

Hello,How can I answer how are you? if I neither feel good, nor bad? Do native speakers ever use so-so? I don't wanna use not bad or okay because they're not quite what I'm looking for... I wanna say that things are not going totally bad but neither are they going fine...

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Between native speakers, "How are you?" is more of a greeting than asking for the state of your health.
The usual answers are: OK. good, and fine.

Other answers (so-so, not so good, etc.) are unusual and will invite an inquiry into what is wrong because you have not answered with one of the "set" answers.

Perfect Stranger · Answer

Thanks... but if someone is truly interested in my state of mind... ?

Clive · Answer

In some contexts, 'How are you?' is just a way of saying 'Hello'. The person does not really care about your actual situation.
A response like 'Fine' is natural
'Not bad' and 'Okay' are also acceptable.
**** 'so so' almost forces the person to start asking you what your problems are

In a context in which you know the person really cares about your situation, you can give as much real detail as you want to.

Clive

Clive · Answer

but if someone is truly interested in my state of mind... ?

Then tell them
eg My wife broke her leg, my house burned down, and my dog died!

Perfect Stranger · Answer

thanks guys

Perfect Stranger · Answer

I was hoping there might be some useful expressions that I might use... for example lots of people say:

I'm peachy
I'm still kicking
Not dead yet
Employed (this one is weird though)
Fine and dandy

Clive · Answer

Those are all OK, but much depends on what mood you want to convey.
eg sarcastic?
eg funny/smart-assed?
eg serious?

Other factors include your relationship with the other person, and your tone of voice and facial expression.

Clive

Vocab question no. 18 - how to answer 'how are you?' ?

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