还 in 你还好吗 is just for emphasis?

Question

还 in 你还好吗 has the meaning of "still" , "as well", "even", or just for "emphasis (强调)" and no meaning here?

Thank you!

Answer 1

你好吗? = how are you?

你(还好)吗? = are you (still ok)?

You need the 还 in 你还好吗 to indicate you are still alright. (nothing bad has happened)

For example, if someone slipped and fell, his friend wouldn't ask him 你好吗? (how are you). His friend would ask 你还好吗? (are you still ok)

If you ask a friend 最近生意如何? (How's business?), the typical reply would be

1. 非常好 (extremely good/ very good)

2. 很好 (very good/ good)

3. 还好 (good/ still good = still considered good = modestly good)

You can see '还' in '还好' indicates 'still' or 'modestly'

Answer 2

还， 这里用在形容词前，表示程度上勉强过得去。

如果把这句话改成陈述句， "你还好"，意思就是你的状态应该是可以的，可以刚好到达'好'的标准.

所以, "你还好吗"问的就是"你的状态还算得上好吧"，或者"你的状态还可以吧"。