Chi Bao Le Ma? (吃飽了嗎?)

Why everyone asks me:

“Chi Bao Le Ma?” (吃飽了嗎? Have you eaten?) instead of
“Ni Hao Ma?” (你好嗎? How’s it going?) all the time?

This is a special culture in Taiwan.
I heard that it is because in the early years
when my grandmother was still a student,
people barely had chance to have a good meal.
Some families even just had one meal per day.
If you had eaten, means that you had a pretty good life.

That’s why they ask “Have you eaten?”
But, it actually means: “How have you been lately?”

So, next time when someone asks you that question,
Don’t be surprised~!

Simply answer: "Chi Bao Le~!" (吃飽了~! Yes, I have~!)