When combined, 最近 (zuìjìn) literally means “most near” in time, which translates perfectly to “recently” or “lately.” 怎么样 (zěnmeyàng) is a standard way to ask “how is it?” or “what's it like?”. Together, the phrase directly asks, “How has it been most recently?”.
In Chinese culture, maintaining social connections is highly valued. While “你好吗?” (nǐ hǎo ma?) is the first greeting taught to foreigners, it can sound somewhat stiff and is often met with a formulaic “很好” (hěn hǎo). “最近怎么样?” serves a more practical social function. It's a conversational lubricant that shows genuine, albeit casual, interest. Compare this to the American “How are you?”. Often, “How are you?” is a rhetorical greeting where the expected answer is simply “Good, you?”. It doesn't always invite a real answer. “最近怎么样?”, however, is a slightly more sincere inquiry. It acknowledges that some time has passed since the last interaction and actively opens the door for a brief, real update. It's a small but significant tool for nurturing 关系 (guānxi), or social relationships, by staying current with the happenings in another's life. It's less of a ritual and more of a real, albeit small, check-in.
This phrase is incredibly versatile and used constantly in daily life among people who know each other.