How Do You Feel Or How Are You?

 

This week we answer a question from Ngan.

Question:

Ngan writes, “What is the difference between ‘how do you feel?’ and ‘how are you?’”

Answer:

Dear Ngan,

Thank you for writing us.

The answer to your question depends on who is asking it, and also, who is answering it. It can depend on how well the two people know each other.

'How do you feel' can be a question you ask a friend. It is a personal question about how you feel now.

Let us say you are talking with your friend who just got out of the hospital:

“Hi Janet. I know you’ve been sick. How do you feel now? I hope you are better!”

This phrase can be about how a person feels physically¹ or emotionally².

Like this question you may ask your friend who just got married:

“How does it feel to be a married man?!”

Add “i-n-g” and you get the word “feeling.”

Now you are asking how someone feels over a period of time.

Here is an example:

“How are you feeling since your foot surgery³?”

or

“How have you been feeling since your father died last month?”

You might also be asking someone her or his opinion.

“How do you feel about the Nats baseball team playing in the World Series?!”

Let’s turn to 'how are you?' This is something friends ask also each other. But it can be a wider question— one that is not related⁴ to a specific issue.

Like this:

“I haven’t seen you for a while, how are you?”

It is also a polite phrase you can use when you meet someone:

“Sam, this is Elizabeth.”

“Nice to meet you Elizabeth. How are you?”

And that’s Ask a Teacher!

I’m Anne Ball.

Words in This Story

specific – adj. clearly and exactly presented or stated : precise⁵ or exact

polite – adj. having or showing good manners or respect for other people

1 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

2 emotionally   

adv.感情上，情绪上，冲动地

参考例句：

• a special school for emotionally disturbed children 为精神异常儿童开办的特殊学校
• A wide range of emotionally stressful events may trigger a relapse. 多种令人情绪紧张的事情都可能引起旧病复发。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 surgery   

n.外科，外科手术；手术室

参考例句：

• What time does surgery finish?门诊什么时间结束？
• Your condition is serious and requires surgery.你的情况很严重，需要动外科手术。

4 related   

adj.有关系的，有关联的，叙述的，讲述的

参考例句：

• I am not related to him in any way.我和他无任何关系。
• We spent days going through all related reference material.我们花了好多天功夫查阅所有有关的参考资料。

5 precise   

adj.精确的，恰好的，极清楚的

参考例句：

• At that precise moment, Miss Pulteney came into the office.就在那时，普尔特尼小姐走进了办公室。
• A scientist must be precise in making tests.科学家做试验必须精确。