how are you

[balakrishnanijk]

Do English people ever say "I am not fine. Thank you". in answer to the question " How are you"?
Or do they always say " I am fine. Thank you.

[mary joe]

There can be a lot of answers to that question. When you get bored using the ¨I am fine. How about you?¨ dialog, you can say:

- I´m cool!
- I´m doing/feeling great!
- I happy etc. today.

When you feel bad you can say:

- I feel blue
- I am a little bit under the weather.

It is really up to you on how you should answer the question.

Note: Also a student/learner

[Barb_D]

Actually, the fact is, 99% of the time, the answer to "How are you?" is "Fine, thanks, yourself?" or something very close to that. ("Just great, thanks" is close enough.)

It's quite unexpected when someone actually responds with how they truly are.

[a writer, not a teacher]

[blouen]

It's quite unexpected when someone actually responds with how they truly are.
[a writer, not a teacher]

Yep! Someone asking "How are you?" is just like saying "Hi!" to you, it's just a plain greeting and therefore saying "I'm fine, thanks! And you? " Is just like saying "Hello".

The person just wants you to know he notices you... so saying that you're feeling bad isn't a nice response.

[mary joe]

If that person is close to you, of course you are going to say how you truly feel. I think there are variations of saying, ¨I´m fine, thank you.¨ If the person really feels saying that, he will smile while saying it. If there is something wrong, he will smirk or frown and say that in a downcast voice.

[blouen]

You could show a smiling face though you're sad. It may be heavy doing so but it's worth practicing!

[mary joe]

It is easy to show a sad smile if you are feeling blue. It is no fun to set a fake bright smile if you don´t feel like it. People will think you are plastic.

[blouen]

No! You're just being nice to people not to influence them of the bad feeling you have.

[mary joe]

At least they know what you are feeling so they won´t get the idea that you´re being plastic.

[blouen]

At least they know what you are feeling so they won´t get the idea that you´re being plastic.

But what if, the person who asked you "how are you" is one you haven't met for years. He approached you with a big smile and asked, "How are you, Mary Joe?"
Wouldn't you be considerate enough to tell him "I'm fine" and not showing all the wrinkles on your face or dropping on his shoulder and hollering with a loud "waaaaaah".