long time no see - English Spanish Translator Org: Translation Forum � Translators Forums

Frank van den Eeden · 06-29-2008, 12:11 AM

long time no see

I used that expression yesterday in a post to Mercedes (Miscellaneous).
It is a common expression in the UK.
But then I thought, where does it come from, and looked it up :
"Long time no see" Is an English expression used when people haven't seen each other in a while. It probably originates from a Chinese expression, hence the non-English syntax. The Simplified Chinese is 好久不见 ('hao jiu mei jian' or 'ho noi mou gin' in Cantonese) which literally means, "very long-time no see". An alternative, though less convincing, theory is that it comes from Native American Pidgin English, or an imitation of such speech.

好久不见

Frank.

vicente · 06-29-2008, 12:16 AM

Hello Frank, long time no see!!

This expression is very common in the U.S. although it is used more by older generations.

I have NO idea where it originated.

Popette · 06-29-2008, 01:52 AM

Thanks for the explanation, I use it all the time, but have always been a bit miffed about the grammar.

A bit like: No can do

mem286 · 06-29-2008, 12:28 PM

Very interesting Frank!!! Thanks!

sabrina · 06-30-2008, 08:20 PM

That expression is very well know...and I'm amazed that it comes from Chinese...how odd!!

Dragona · 07-02-2008, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vicente

Hello Frank, long time no see!!

This expression is very common in the U.S. although it is used more by older generations.

I have NO idea where it originated.

OK, it's official, I'm old

I use the expression all the time when I haven't seen someone in a long time.

vicente · 07-02-2008, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragona

OK, it's official, I'm old

I use the expression all the time when I haven't seen someone in a long time.

HAHAHA!

Welcome to the club Dragona! Actually, I shouldn't have said that it is an old folks expression. It's just that I don't hear it much anymore, especially from kids. Maybe they do use it.

Dragona · 07-02-2008, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vicente

HAHAHA!

Welcome to the club Dragona! Actually, I shouldn't have said that it is an old folks expression. It's just that I don't hear it much anymore, especially from kids. Maybe they do use it.

Dude, I was born in the late 70s, didn't think I was that old!

(even if my kids think so! But their comments are coming from 6 and 4 year old kiddos so I let the comments slip!)
But I'm part of the club now! yey!

CarlosRoberto · 07-05-2008, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragona

Dude, I was born in the late 70s, didn't think I was that old!

(even if my kids think so! But their comments are coming from 6 and 4 year old kiddos so I let the comments slip!)
But I'm part of the club now! yey!

Please, Dragona, don't make me feel older than I already am. I was born in the late 60s, and you say you're old! As my aunt Carmela (she's 101 years old) said one day to my mom: "Si eso dice bizcochito tierno, qu� dir� pan duro".

Saludos

06-29-2008, 12:11 AM	#1
Frank van den Eeden Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Antwerp/Belgium Age: 63 Posts: 334 Rep Power: 433	long time no see long time no see I used that expression yesterday in a post to Mercedes (Miscellaneous). It is a common expression in the UK. But then I thought, where does it come from, and looked it up : "Long time no see" Is an English expression used when people haven't seen each other in a while. It probably originates from a Chinese expression, hence the non-English syntax. The Simplified Chinese is 好久不见 ('hao jiu mei jian' or 'ho noi mou gin' in Cantonese) which literally means, "very long-time no see". An alternative, though less convincing, theory is that it comes from Native American Pidgin English, or an imitation of such speech. 好久不见 Frank. __________________ beste groeten - sinc�res salutations - kindest regards - atentamente - mit freundlichen Gr��en

06-29-2008, 12:16 AM	#2
vicente Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 598 Rep Power: 1079	Hello Frank, long time no see!! This expression is very common in the U.S. although it is used more by older generations. I have NO idea where it originated. __________________ vicente

06-29-2008, 12:28 PM	#4
mem286 Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Santa Fe, Argentina Posts: 1,277 Rep Power: 1530	Very interesting Frank!!! Thanks! __________________ ================= ====-mem286-====

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06-29-2008, 01:52 AM	#3
Popette Forum User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 56 Rep Power: 32	Thanks for the explanation, I use it all the time, but have always been a bit miffed about the grammar. A bit like: No can do

06-30-2008, 08:20 PM	#5
sabrina Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 366 Rep Power: 318	That expression is very well know...and I'm amazed that it comes from Chinese...how odd!!

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