Where did the saying long time no see come from?
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Where did the saying long time no see come from?
The phrase is often portrayed as originating in Chinese pidgin English. It may have been coined at one point based on the Cantonese phrase “好耐冇見” (Jyutping: hou2 noi6 mou5 gin3), or the Mandarin phrase “好久不見”, both of which yield the exact expression “long time no see” when translated directly into English.
Is long time no see grammatically correct?
Feel free to say “long time no see” if it seems appropriate. It sounds informal and friendly! It is not a complete sentence and so it is not grammatically correct. But it’s a very common expression, and so is acceptable in all but the most formal writing.
Do British people say long time no see?
6 Answers. “Long time no see” is used in the UK. It is informal. I do not know how widespread its use is but I expect people of most UK social groups and of most UK regions would recognise and understand it even if it was not a form of greeting they would use themselves.
What does long time no see mean?
Definition of long time no see informal. —used as a greeting for someone one has not seen for a long time Well hello there!
Why is it bad to say Long time no see?
‘Long Time, No See’ Is Now Considered ‘Derogatory’ toward Asians. The phrase might be of Asian origin, and so the alarm sounds. A student at Colorado State University was reportedly told that the expression “Long time, no see” was an example of “non-inclusive” language because it’s apparently “derogatory toward” Asians …
Who invented long time no see?
As the 20th century progressed, “long time no see” began to evolve from a phrase in broken English to a standard way to greet an old acquaintance. By 1920, the phrase makes it into Good Housekeeping magazine. The novelist Raymond Chandler used it in more than one of his books.
Can you say Long time, no see in an email?
“Long time, no see” is appropriate in a casual setting, either in conversation or in emails. (Of course, you’re not actually seeing the person…) It is, of course, grammatically incorrect.
How do you say Long time, no see in different ways?
None of this is textbook English, but here we go:
- I haven’t seen you in ages!
- It’s been a while hasn’t it.
- It’s been a minute.
- I ain’t (haven’t) seen you in donkey’s years.
- It’s been forever since the last I saw you.
- How long has it been!
Is Long time no see from Chinese?
Today, the phrase “long time no see” is so widespread as a greeting that there’s nothing to indicate the term’s origins, be they Native American or Mandarin Chinese. Given its ubiquitous usage in books, conversations, movies, songs and television programs, the phrase is now widely identified with American culture.
What’s another way to say long time, no see?
Instead of long time no see, consider these alternative expressions: “I haven’t seen you in a while!” “It’s been such a long time since we’ve seen each other!”
How do you say long time, no see formal?
None of this is textbook English, but here we go:
- I haven’t seen you in ages!
- It’s been a while hasn’t it.
- It’s been a minute.
- I ain’t (haven’t) seen you in donkey’s years.
- It’s been forever since the last I saw you.
- How long has it been!
How do you respond to a long time no see message?
If someone says “Long time, no see”, you could say, “Yeah, it’s good to see you after so long!”, “What have you been up to?” or something similar. “Long time to you, too” could be considered a bit aggressive.