A Different Way To Say How Are You?

[nakriian]

คุณเป็นอย่างไรบ้างครับ

I was told this was a common phrase utilized to ask someone how they are doing. I was told it was similar to สบายดีไหมครับ. Can someone confirm this correct. Any additional comments would be appreciated.

Edited February 11, 2007 by nakriian

[meadish_sweetball]

Yep, that's correct.

In speech it is contracted into เป็นยังไงบ้าง or even shorter เป็นไงบ้าง (with ครับ or ค่ะ afterwards for politeness).

[aanon]

Yep, that's correct.

In speech it is contracted into เป็นยังไงบ้าง or even shorter เป็นไงบ้าง (with ครับ or ค่ะ afterwards for politeness).

or even shorter, เป็นไง?

or even shorter, ไง?

but the longer forms, with ครับ or ค่ะ, are best to avoid being impolite.

all the best.

[Edward B]

Or even shorter เป็นไง (very informal). Another useful one is ว่าไง (what's up?).

[nakriian]

คุณเป็นอย่างไรบ้างครับ

อย่างไร = how

บ้าง = ??

Could someone tell me why บ้าง is necessary in this sentence. It seems it will still say "how are you?" with out the บ้าง

[aanon]

คุณเป็นอย่างไรบ้างครับ

อย่างไร = how

บ้าง = ??

Could someone tell me why บ้าง is necessary in this sentence. It seems it will still say "how are you?" with out the บ้าง

interesting question,

we could say it softens the question a little and leave it at that. or we could make a case that it actually means something specific. let's look at บ้าง in other similar questions:

คุณไปไหนมา: where have you been? (มา indicates past tense)

คุณไปไหนมาบ้าง: more like "what are some of the places you have been?"

คุณจะกินอะไร: what will you eat?

คุณจะกินอะไรบ้าง: more like: "what are some of the things you are going to eat?"

in both cases the question with บ้าง sounds less interrogative, more friendly, and gives the person asked the option to give as much or as little information as they like.

similarly for คุณเป็นอย่างไรบ้างครับ

all the best.