What does 'long time no see' mean?

What it means: "It's been a long time since I've seen you." A greeting used when you encounter someone you haven't seen for a while.

Why the strange grammar? It's a direct translation from Chinese (好久不见 — hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn), which entered English through contact between Chinese immigrants and English speakers in America, probably in the 1800s. The grammar is "telegraphic" — stripped down to essential words without standard English structure.

Is it correct English? Technically no. But it's been used for over 150 years and is completely understood everywhere. It's what linguists call a "fossilised expression" — a fixed phrase that survives despite breaking grammatical rules.

When to use it: Any casual greeting when you haven't seen someone for months or years. Works in conversation and informal messages.

• "It's been ages!" — warmer, British English
• "It's been a while!" — neutral
• "Haven't seen you in forever!" — casual American

Tags: greetings, etymology, informal, social English