Can "yee ka ka desu ka" mean "how are you?"


I was learning Japanese a few years ago and a phrase I picked up (I think from
the Pimsleur program) was "Yee ka ka desu ka" (or maybe the "Yee" was written
as "ii" to pronounce as a short form of "ee"), to mean "how are you?"

I then said this to some Japanese people I met. Some say it can mean "how are
you", but some showed a "what is it?" facial expression and when I tell them
what I meant to say, told me it can't mean "how are you". Can this phrase mean
it? Or perhaps only in a certain context or between really close friends who
saw each other recently?




I think you're referring to

> いかがですか  
>  ikaga desu ka

which is the polite version of

> どうですか  
>  dou desu ka  
>  How are things?

It can be used to ask "How are you?" in a polite way, but **only with
caution** : いかがですか【ikaga desu ka】 is mostly used to mean "Would you like
some?", so if you're holding something in your hand, one might assume you're
offering to give something.

The more complete way of asking "How are you?" in a polite way would be

> いかが **お過ごし** ですか  
>  ikaga **osugoshi** desu ka  
>  How are you doing?

If it's clear from the context of a conversation, short forms like

> いかがですか、最近  
>  ikaga desu ka, saikin  
>  How are things recently?

may be used, but いかがですか{ikaga desu ka} is **not used to start off a
conversation**.




I think you're referring to

> いかがですか  
>  ikaga desu ka

which is the polite version of

> どうですか  
>  dou desu ka  
>  How are things?

It can be used to ask "How are you?" in a polite way, but **only with
caution** : いかがですか【ikaga desu ka】 is mostly used to mean "Would you like
some?", so if you're holding something in your hand, one might assume you're
offering to give something.

The more complete way of asking "How are you?" in a polite way would be

> いかが **お過ごし** ですか  
>  ikaga **osugoshi** desu ka  
>  How are you doing?

If it's clear from the context of a conversation, short forms like

> いかがですか、最近  
>  ikaga desu ka, saikin  
>  How are things recently?

may be used, but いかがですか{ikaga desu ka} is **not used to start off a
conversation**.

