How to Say ‘Long time no see’ in Traditional Chinese
好久不見
hǎo jiǔ bù jiàn
[haow jyoe boo jyen]
🇹🇼 In Taiwan: [好久不見] is a very normal, friendly greeting when you meet again after some time. With in-laws, it sounds warm and natural, but you'd usually follow it with a health or family question to sound attentive.
Phrase Breakdown
好久
hǎo jiǔ
for a long time; a long while
Used to say that a long time has passed since the last meeting or contact.
我們好久沒見了。
We haven't seen each other for a long time.
Words in this phrase
好
hǎo
[haow]
very; quite
In this greeting, 好 helps express that the time apart has been quite long.
朋友見面時常說好久不見。
Friends often say 'long time no see' when they meet.
久
jiǔ
[jyoe]
long time
Shows a long period of time has passed. In 好久不見, it means a long time.
我們真的好久不見了。
We really haven't seen each other for a long time.
不見
bù jiàn
not see; haven’t seen
In this phrase, it means “haven’t seen (you)” and completes the greeting expression.
好久不見，你最近好嗎？
Long time no see, how have you been recently?
Words in this phrase
不
bù
[boo]
not
Negates the verb 見 in the phrase 好久不見, making it mean have not seen.
這麼久不見，你變了很多。
After not seeing you for so long, you've changed a lot.
見
jiàn
[jyen]
to see; to meet
Means to see or meet. In 好久不見, it refers to not having seen someone for a long time.
大家一見面就說好久不見。
As soon as everyone met, they said 'long time no see.'
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