How to Say “Long time no see” in Chinese
Small talk and travel · HSK 2
"Long time no see" in Chinese is 好久不见 (hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn). 好久不见 (hǎojiǔ bú jiàn, "very long not see") is the direct ancestor of English "long time no see"; the English phrase was itself borrowed from Chinese. It opens any reunion after weeks or months apart.
Primary translation
好久不见
hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn
Traditional: 好久不見
When to use it
好久不见 (hǎojiǔ bú jiàn, "very long not see") is the direct ancestor of English "long time no see"; the English phrase was itself borrowed from Chinese. It opens any reunion after weeks or months apart. Expected replies: 是啊，好久没见了 (yes, it has been a while), 你怎么样 (how are you?). For closer reunions 想死你了 (I miss you so much / "thought about you to death") adds warmth between close friends. Pair naturally with 最近怎么样 to move the conversation forward.
Example sentences
好久不见，最近怎么样？
Hǎojiǔ bú jiàn, zuìjìn zěnmeyàng?
Long time no see, how have you been?
是啊，好久没见了！
Shì a, hǎojiǔ méi jiàn le!
Yes, it has been so long!
最近忙什么呢？
Zuìjìn máng shénme ne?
What have you been up to lately?