Menu
Start a Thread Start a Poll
How are you doing?
Aug 23, 2007 02:45
  • APAULT
  • Points:
  • Join Date: Mar 11, 2006
  • Status: offline
Following DaveC's line in another thread.

I sometimes use the greeting, 'How are you doing?'...which needs only a nominal reply such as,
'fine thanks'.

However many of my students and friends reply to the question, 'WHAT are you doing' and say for example.. 'I am going to the library'.

I think that explains and I hope it is useful.
Aug 23, 2007 03:40
#1  
  • EVENING
  • Points:
  • Join Date: Dec 5, 2006
  • Status: Offline
If I want the reply 'fine thanks', I will just say 'How are you?' rather than 'How are you doing?'

'How are you doing' is easily regarded as 'What are you doing'.

Paul, don't you locals say 'How are you'?
Aug 23, 2007 10:51
#2  
  • LIONPOWER
  • Points:
  • Join Date: Dec 11, 2006
  • Status: Offline
yes, normally we say, " How are you?".
Aug 23, 2007 15:06
#3  
  • WINDENERGY
  • Points:
  • Join Date: Jan 24, 2006
  • Status: Offline
This subject matter is too "deep" and philosophical for me!! Ha-Ha : )

My neck of the woods is: Hi, how ya doin'?

Lately it's been Ni Hao? But I have progessed to Gem-ma? Then on to Zui Jian Ru He?

__WINDENERGY__
Aug 24, 2007 12:17
#4  
In Somerset it would be ow be gettin on me old mucker?
Aug 27, 2007 01:53
#5  
  • DAVEC
  • Points:
  • Join Date: Apr 14, 2007
  • Status: Offline
I think in UK now we are more likely to say "how's things?" or "how's it going?"
Aug 27, 2007 01:59
#6  
  • MAY001
  • Points:
  • Join Date: Sep 28, 2005
  • Status: Offline
We say 吃了吗 in Xian.

:P
Aug 27, 2007 12:48
#7  
  • PETERJOHN
  • Points:
  • Join Date: Aug 27, 2007
  • Status: Offline
May, what does that mean?

Around here, we say "how's it going?" or just "hey"

Aug 27, 2007 20:28
#8  
  • BBQQ
  • Points:
  • Join Date: Feb 7, 2007
  • Status: Offline
吃了吗 (Chi Le Ma) means Have you had your meal, Peter. It's a popular greeting in northern China. You don't need answer it seriously that whether you have eaten or not.
Aug 27, 2007 21:46
#9  
  • PETERJOHN
  • Points:
  • Join Date: Aug 27, 2007
  • Status: Offline
Very interesting! How do you do the inflection? For example: Chi(1) Le(3) Ma(2) or maybe Chì Lé Mà or something like that?

Aug 28, 2007 20:48
#10  
  • EVENING
  • Points:
  • Join Date: Dec 5, 2006
  • Status: Offline
It should be Chi (1) Le (3) Ma (1).
Post a Reply to: How are you doing?
Content: ( 3,000 characters at most, please )
You can add emoticons below to your post by clicking them.
characters left
Name:    Get a new code