Discover the meaning, origin, and cultural story behind this iconic Chinglish expression — and why it captured the world's attention.
"Long time no see" is a greeting used when meeting someone after a long period. It is a direct calque of the Chinese phrase "好久不见" (hǎo jiǔ bù jiàn). Unlike any other Chinglish phrase, this one has been fully absorbed into standard English — most native speakers have no idea it originated from Chinese.
The phrase first appeared in American English as early as 1900, documented in sources about Chinese Pidgin English spoken by Chinese immigrants. It appeared in American Western films and gradually entered mainstream American vernacular. Today it appears in dictionaries as an established English expression — a rare case of Chinglish evolving into standard English.
Every phrase has a story. Explore our complete collection of feature pages with deep dives into the most fascinating Chinglish expressions.
📖 Browse All Feature Pages →
💬 Leave a Comment
Share your thoughts on this phrase. No account needed — just your email.