violettazehmlynx

[viscid shoal]

Please be patient

Our volunteers look into many questions every day; sometimes it takes them a little while to answer.

Pro tip: you can rename the thread title with `.tr <thread name>`

Make it descriptive, including relevant context, but also to the point. This way you improve your chances of getting a more relevant and specific answer.

[vestal wharf]

Hmmm... those things don't really have different meanings in English imo
Like, first of all, if someone says "how are you?", unless it's a close friend, you're not answering 'truthfully'... these are what are called phatic expressions and they're not (generally) about communicating information, but just used as social lubricant

When they do have different meanings, a lot of that is down to intonation in both English and French

I'm fine
I'm fine
I'm… fine…
I'm fine!

You can do the same thing with "Ça va" as I've done above

So, the expressions you've given are used, but the degree of "fineness" communicated by them comes not just down to the individual words, but also to how you use them / emphasize them

[cobalt prairie]

Just like you may hear "Ah, on est là hein" as "I've hit rock bottom"

[vestal wharf]

Note, however that "je suis bien" has a totally different meaning and it more like "I'm comfy" "I'm chilled out"

[cobalt prairie]

Will depend on context

[modern fable]

"ça va bien"/"je vais bien" is a pretty standard response, closest to "I'm good" (which in both languages people may use regardless of how they're actually doing)
"ça va" is the most neutral standard for things being mid to okay or shrugging off the question (doesn't particularly imply either direction on its own, tone and context will define how it comes off)
"On est là" is a bit more firm of a shove off, this is closer to a casual "I'm alive" or "It's going"

As Andy said, "je suis bien" is a separate thing altogether and implies comfort, like you're in a comfy chair or bath or something