How to Say “How is everything?” in Chinese
Greetings and politeness · HSK 2
"How is everything?" in Chinese is 最近怎么样？ (Zuìjìn zěnmeyàng?). 怎么样 is one of the most useful question words in Chinese; it literally means 'how like' and works for asking about anything. 最近怎么样 is the go-to 'how've you been' between acquaintances.
Primary translation
最近怎么样？
Zuìjìn zěnmeyàng?
Traditional: 最近怎麼樣？
Variants by register
Formal
最近一切都好吗？
Zuìjìn yīqiè dōu hǎo ma?
Casual
最近咋样？
Zuìjìn zǎyàng?
When to use it
怎么样 is one of the most useful question words in Chinese; it literally means 'how like' and works for asking about anything. 最近怎么样 is the go-to 'how've you been' between acquaintances. In northern China, especially Beijing and the northeast, you'll hear 咋样 (zǎyàng) as a punchy casual version. The standard reply isn't 'good'; it's usually 还行 (hái xíng, 'okay') or 还可以, because saying things are great sounds like bragging.
Example sentences
好久不见，最近怎么样？
Hǎojiǔ bùjiàn, zuìjìn zěnmeyàng?
Long time no see, how's everything?
工作最近一切都好吗？
Gōngzuò zuìjìn yīqiè dōu hǎo ma?
Is everything okay with work recently?
哥们儿，最近咋样啊？
Gēmenr, zuìjìn zǎyàng a?
Bro, how's it going lately?