It is a well-ingrained Chinese habit to make inquiries or observations that are purely rhetorical. Most examples of this revolve around health and well-being, but some could also be classified as simple polite-isms. Examples include:

“Lai le.” or “Dao le.” – roughly translated as “You’ve arrived.” or “Here you are.” This observation signifies that you have arrived safely and that all parties concerned can now proceed with the business at hand.

“Chi (fan) le ma?” – literally translates as “Have you eaten?” Although it does convey this literal meaning, it is also used as a greeting to express concern for a guest’s health, even if it is not anywhere near a mealtime.