A1 Expression Neutre

久しぶり

hisashiburi

Long time no see

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use {久しぶり|ひさしぶり} to warmly greet someone you haven't seen in a while.

  • Means: A long time has passed since we last met.
  • Used in: Casual reunions with friends, colleagues, or acquaintances.
  • Don't confuse: It is not a formal greeting for first-time meetings.
Clock icon + Smiling face = Reconnecting with a friend

Explanation at your level:

This is a simple way to say 'Long time no see' to friends.
Use this phrase when you meet someone you haven't seen for a while. It is common in both casual and polite speech.
This expression serves as a social bridge. By using it, you acknowledge the time elapsed, which helps re-establish rapport after a period of separation.
Functioning as a phatic expression, it facilitates the transition back into conversation. It is essential for maintaining social harmony in Japanese culture by validating the duration of absence.
The phrase utilizes the suffix -buri to quantify temporal distance. It functions as a sociolinguistic marker of intimacy and social distance, requiring careful selection between the plain and honorific forms.
This expression exemplifies the Japanese cultural emphasis on 'ma' (space/interval). By linguistically marking the temporal gap, the speaker mitigates the potential awkwardness of a long absence, effectively recalibrating the interpersonal relationship through a conventionalized greeting.

Signification

Used when meeting someone after a long time.

🌍

Contexte culturel

It is polite to bow slightly when saying this to a superior. Always use 'go-busata' instead of 'hisashiburi' in emails. Young people often shorten it to 'hisa'.

💡

Politeness

Always add 'desu' for safety.

Signification

Used when meeting someone after a long time.

💡

Politeness

Always add 'desu' for safety.

Teste-toi

Which is appropriate for a teacher?

How do you greet a teacher after a year?

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : b

Use the polite form for teachers.

🎉 Score : /1

Aides visuelles

Questions fréquentes

1 questions

Yes, but use 'o-hisashiburi desu'.

Expressions liées

🔗

ご無沙汰

formal

Long time no see (apologetic)

🔗

また会えて嬉しい

similar

Happy to see you again

Où l'utiliser

👋

Running into a friend

A: 久しぶり！

B: あ、久しぶり！元気？

informal
👔

Meeting a former boss

A: 部長、お久しぶりです。

B: おー、久しぶりだな。

formal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Hisashi' (a long time) 'buri' (bridge). You are building a bridge over a long time.

Visual Association

Imagine a calendar with many pages flipping by quickly, landing on a picture of two friends hugging.

Story

Ken meets his friend Yumi. It has been 5 years. He says 'Hisashiburi!' They both smile and start talking about the past.

Word Web

会う元気時間再会懐かしいご無沙汰

Défi

Say this to someone you haven't texted in a week today.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

¡Cuánto tiempo!

Spanish is more emotive; Japanese is more structured.

French high

Ça fait longtemps.

French is a statement of fact; Japanese is a greeting.

German high

Lange nicht gesehen.

German is more direct.

Japanese moderate

ご無沙汰しております。

This implies an apology.

Arabic moderate

طالت الغيبة

Arabic is more poetic.

Easily Confused

久しぶり vs 初めまして

Learners use this when they haven't seen someone in a while.

Use this only for the first time ever.

FAQ (1)

Yes, but use 'o-hisashiburi desu'.

C'tait utile ?

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