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  1. 06-29-2008 #1
    Frank van den Eeden
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    Default long time no see

    long time no see

    I used that expression yesterday in a post to Mercedes (Miscellaneous).
    It is a common expression in the UK.
    But then I thought, where does it come from, and looked it up :
    "Long time no see" Is an English expression used when people haven't seen each other in a while. It probably originates from a Chinese expression, hence the non-English syntax. The Simplified Chinese is 好久不见 ('hao jiu mei jian' or 'ho noi mou gin' in Cantonese) which literally means, "very long-time no see". An alternative, though less convincing, theory is that it comes from Native American Pidgin English, or an imitation of such speech.


    好久不见


    Frank.
    beste groeten - sincères salutations - kindest regards - atentamente - mit freundlichen Grüßen
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  2. 06-29-2008 #2
    vicente
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    Hello Frank, long time no see!!

    This expression is very common in the U.S. although it is used more by older generations.

    I have NO idea where it originated.
    vicente
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  3. 06-29-2008 #3
    Popette
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    Thanks for the explanation, I use it all the time, but have always been a bit miffed about the grammar.

    A bit like: No can do
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  4. 06-29-2008 #4
    mem286
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    Very interesting Frank!!! Thanks!
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  5. 06-30-2008 #5
    sabrina
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    That expression is very well know...and I'm amazed that it comes from Chinese...how odd!!
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  6. 07-02-2008 #6
    Dragona
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    Quote Originally Posted by vicente
    Hello Frank, long time no see!!

    This expression is very common in the U.S. although it is used more by older generations.

    I have NO idea where it originated.
    OK, it's official, I'm old
    I use the expression all the time when I haven't seen someone in a long time.
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  7. 07-02-2008 #7
    vicente
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dragona
    OK, it's official, I'm old
    I use the expression all the time when I haven't seen someone in a long time.

    HAHAHA!

    Welcome to the club Dragona! Actually, I shouldn't have said that it is an old folks expression. It's just that I don't hear it much anymore, especially from kids. Maybe they do use it.
    vicente
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  8. 07-02-2008 #8
    Dragona
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    Quote Originally Posted by vicente
    HAHAHA!

    Welcome to the club Dragona! Actually, I shouldn't have said that it is an old folks expression. It's just that I don't hear it much anymore, especially from kids. Maybe they do use it.
    Dude, I was born in the late 70s, didn't think I was that old! (even if my kids think so! But their comments are coming from 6 and 4 year old kiddos so I let the comments slip!)
    But I'm part of the club now! yey!
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  9. 07-05-2008 #9
    CarlosRoberto
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dragona
    Dude, I was born in the late 70s, didn't think I was that old! (even if my kids think so! But their comments are coming from 6 and 4 year old kiddos so I let the comments slip!)
    But I'm part of the club now! yey!
    Please, Dragona, don't make me feel older than I already am. I was born in the late 60s, and you say you're old! As my aunt Carmela (she's 101 years old) said one day to my mom: "Si eso dice bizcochito tierno, qué dirá pan duro".

    Saludos
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