In English－as in any other language －we do not always say what we mean or mean what we say．This is true of some of the things we say every day．For example, “How do you do?” “How are you?” This is what people say on meeting．Sometimes they stop and shake hands．“How are you?” looks like a question．It is written with a question mark(问号)after it．And sometimes “How are you?” is a question．One person may want to know if another is well or ill－how his health is－and so on．

　　When these are questions, they are almost always said as if(好像)the person who says them wants an answer．

　　But most of the time they are said in a way which does not ask for any answer．When these words are said so, we do not answer “I am tired, ” or “I have a bad cold,” or “I am not well．” We say the same thing back to the other person．“How are you?” or “Hello”．Such words are like a smile or a wave of the hand．

　　In the same way, when we meet someone in the morning we may say “Good morning!” The weather may be very bad but we say “Good morning!” and the other person will say “Good morning” back to us．We are not talking about the weather or about how good or bad the morning is．

　　Again, when people are parting(分手), they may say “Good morning!” or “Good afternoon!” or “Good evening!” or “Good night!” to one another instead of “Good-bye!” They are not talking about the weather but saying “May all be well with you at this time!”

　　You will find few people today who know that “Good -bye!” is a short way of saying “God be with you”．(上帝保佑你)．But in past times, when religion(宗教)had more place than it now has in education, a child could be taught this very young as part of his knowledge of English．