There are many different ways to answer the question "How are you" in my home country (the USA).

In China, there is only one way.  I hear it every day.

Every.

Single.

Day.

"I'm fine, thank you.  And you?"

It's like a robotic answer.  No emotion.

Boring.

Don't be a robot.  Give an honest answer.

Here are some different ways to answer "How are you?"

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Not bad.

A: "How are you?"

B: "Not bad."

This is a more friendly way to answer than just "I'm fine."

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Very well, thanks.

A: "How are you?"

B: "Very well, thanks."

This is more of an informal way to answer.  Thanks is the informal way to say thank you.

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Pretty good.

A: "How are you?"

B: "Pretty good."

A common and casual way to answer.  Maybe you're not doing amazing, but your pretty good.

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I'm great! How about you.

A: "How are you?"

B: "I'm great!  How about you?"

Maybe you are having a wonderful day.  Show it with this answer.  Instead of adding and you?, try the friendlier how about you?

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Hanging in there.

A: "How are you?"

B: "I'm hanging in."

The last two are for when you aren't having the best day.  I'm hanging in lets the person know that you aren't having a good day but you're doing your best to make it through.  Usually they will ask you "What's wrong?"  

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I've been better.

A: "How are you?"

B: "I've been better."

We've all had better days.  Some days are good, some are bad.  This answer is for those bad days.

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And there you have it!  Some new ways to answer the age-old question of "How are you?"  Try one of these out the next chance that you can!

Useful and new:

1. I'm hanging in: Doing your best on a bad day.

Ex: "It's been a hard day but I'm hanging in."

2. Robotic: like a robot.

Ex: "He couldn't give a more robotic answer."

3. Age-old: very old.  Traditional.

Ex: "And now for the age-old tradition of blowing out the birthday cake candles!"