Thread: HI and Hi, there

Originally Posted by Hanna

Note: Nobody actually responds to the question! Strange, isn't it?

you meant native speakers obviously
I'm actually feeling a little uncomfortable if somebody says "How do you do" to me. I'm always in between answering "Hello", "I'm fine" or actually answering the question
Can you please relieve me from this burden and tell me what should I answer and why?

Originally Posted by Doomer

you meant native speakers obviously
I'm actually feeling a little uncomfortable if somebody says "How do you do" to me. I'm always in between answering "Hello", "I'm fine" or actually answering the question
Can you please relieve me from this burden and tell me what should I answer and why?

Answer it in any way you would answer "How are you?" It's the same statement with an active voice, <<do you do?>> instead of <<are you doing?>> Another analog is <<How do you fare?>> (from old-world "How farest thou?" and so on) but no one ever says that.

You can say "Wonderful, and you?" and I don't think anyone would bat an eye. This is only my take, from personal experience as a native.

It would feel odd if someone said "How do you do?" to me, and I didn't respond.. I'd feel compelled to respond.

"How do you do?" probably makes everyone a little nervous. I know it does me. You're totally normal.