久しぶり
Meaning: Long time no see — used when meeting someone you haven't seen in a while.
A versatile reunion greeting that works for any timeframe from a few weeks to many years. 久しぶり is casual and warm, expressing genuine pleasure at seeing someone again. The polite form お久しぶりです is used with superiors or less familiar people. It can also modify nouns to mean 'the first time in a while' (e.g., 久しぶりのラーメン).
Examples
- 久しぶり!元気だった? 好久不见!最近还好吗?¡Cuánto tiempo! ¿Qué tal has estado?久しぶり! 잘 지냈어?
- 久しぶりに会えて嬉しい! 好久不见,见到你好开心!¡Qué alegría verte después de tanto tiempo!久しぶりに 만나서 반가워!
- 久しぶりのカラオケ、楽しみ! 好久没吃的拉面,好期待!Karaoke después de mucho tiempo, ¡qué ganas!久しぶりの 노래방, 기대돼!
Pronunciation
/çi.sa.ɕi.bɯ.ɾi/
Usage Guide
Context: reunions, meeting old friends, casual encounters
Tone: warm, pleased
✓ Do Say
- 久しぶり!全然変わってないね (Long time no see! You haven't changed at all)久しぶり!全然変わってないね(好久不见!你一点都没变)¡Cuánto tiempo! No has cambiado nada (Long time no see! You haven't changed at all)久しぶり!全然変わってないね (오랜만이야! 하나도 안 변했네)
- 久しぶりだね、最近どう? (It's been a while, how have you been?)久しぶりだね、最近どう?(好久不见,最近怎么样?)¡Cuánto tiempo! ¿Qué tal últimamente? (It's been a while, how have you been?)久しぶりだね、最近どう? (오랜만이다, 요즘 어때?)
✗ Don't Say
- 毎日会う同僚に「久しぶり」は変 — 実際に間が空いた時だけ使う (Saying 久しぶり to coworkers you see daily is odd — only use when there's been an actual gap)对每天都见面的同事说「久しぶり」很奇怪——只在确实有一段时间没见时才用Decir 久しぶり a compañeros que ves a diario resulta extraño — úsalo solo cuando realmente ha pasado tiempo매일 보는 동료에게 「久しぶり」는 어색하다 — 실제로 시간이 지난 경우에만 사용한다
Common Mistakes
- Using 久しぶり with superiors or in formal settings — use お久しぶりです instead
- Not realising 久しぶり can also be used for activities, not just people (久しぶりの旅行 = first trip in a while)
Origin & History
From 久しい (hisashii, 'long time') + ぶり (buri, 'since/interval'). Literally 'it has been a long interval.' A standard Japanese expression used for generations.
Cultural Context
Era: Traditional, longstanding usage
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. One of the most common reunion greetings. The polite form お久しぶりです is essential for formal situations.
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