"long time no/not see".I am not a native english speaker but i speak pure english though. sometimes i just find it weird to say long time not see. My friend told me it is not accepted as a proper english and was commonly used by chinese long time back when they were learning english.
2007-09-01 05:45:57 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
It's not really proper English (but fine to use), but more like slang. Slang is becoming more common in the English language. You would want to say: It's been a long time since I last saw you.
2007-09-01 05:49:25 · answer #1 · answered by KS 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's actually: Long time no see. And I don't think it's proper English but is an acceptable thing to say to someone you haven't seen in a while. I don't know where it came from. That's interesting that you say it came from Chinese a long time ago. I wonder if there's any truth to that.
2007-09-01 12:55:10 · answer #2 · answered by Lydia H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Long time no see." It's just a set phrase--you can't explain it by grammar rules because it's a joking imitation of broken English. (Your friend may be right about its origins.) It's okay to use in an informal situation, but not when it is important to speak properly. I don't think it's ever necessary to say it--I don't think I've ever said it--so if you feel weird, just don't say it.
2007-09-01 12:52:45 · answer #3 · answered by hoptoad 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not formal, gramatically correct English, but after a period of absence it is common for English speakers to say, "Long time NO see"
2007-09-01 12:53:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lol. "Long time no see" is an idiom that means "I haven't seen you in a long time." No, it is not proper english, and it does sorta sound like a grammar mistake that an asian person might make.
2007-09-01 12:51:53 · answer #5 · answered by Micheal M 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like a line from a poem. The rules for correct English are frequently suspended for poetry to allow for flow.
Long time, no see.
2007-09-01 12:49:40 · answer #6 · answered by Dharma Nature 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Long time no see.
2007-09-01 12:48:39 · answer #7 · answered by Kellie 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The phrase is actually a word-for-word translation of a Chinese phrase (in Mandarin "hao jiu bu jian" -- "good long time no see")
2007-09-01 12:52:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Long time, no see" is proper, even though if one were to analyze it they would say the opposite.
English is very strange. Just roll with the punches, I guess...
Anyway, yeah. Long time, no see!
2007-09-01 12:49:40 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its 'long time no see' and is used frequently over here.
2007-09-01 12:50:03 · answer #10 · answered by Sal*UK 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋