久しぶり
hisashiburi[çi̥sa̠ɕibɯ̟ɾʲi]
The Japanese phrase for 'long time' is 久しぶり (hisashiburi).
The expression 久しぶり is used as a greeting between two people who have not been in contact for a significant period, expressing 'It's been a while'. It can also function as a noun phrase to describe the duration of an interval, such as a long-awaited trip.
Meaning: used as part of greeting of two people who have not been in contact for a long time (intj)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The bare form 久しぶり is informal and should be used with friends, family or people of equal or lower social status. For strictly formal contexts describing a long duration, other expressions like 長い間 (a long time) or 相当な時間 (considerable time) may be used.
How do you pronounce it?
hisashiburi
Did you know?
- In very formal business settings, people may avoid 久しぶり entirely and instead use ご無沙汰しております (go-busata shite orimasu), which literally apologizes for the 'lack of contact'.
- The component ぶり (-buri) in 久しぶり comes from a word meaning 'manner' or 'way', and is now used as a suffix to describe the interval since a previous occurrence.
- In written Japanese, particularly in letters, the concept of 'long time' is often expressed through seasonal references instead of the direct word 久しぶり.
Examples in context
- お久しぶり。Long time, no see.This sentence is useful for a quick, casual 'Long time, no see.'Tatoeba #417005 by bunbuku, translation #417003 by CK
- 久しぶりだね。It's been a long time.This sentence is useful for saying 'It's been a long time.'Tatoeba #417004 by bunbuku, translation #417006 by CK
- 久しぶりです。I haven't seen you for a long time.This sentence is useful for a polite way to say 'I haven't seen you for a long time.'Tatoeba #417008 by bunbuku, translation #417009 by CK
- 久しぶり！最後に会ったのは何年前だっけ？Long time no see! How many years has it been since we last met?
- 長い間お待たせしましたI apologize for keeping you waiting for a long time.
- お取引の前回から相当な時間が経ちましたConsiderable time has passed since the previous business transaction.
- 53 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends run into each other at a cafe.
- 健太 Kenta美咲、久しぶり！Misaki, hisashiburi!Misaki, long time no see!
- 美咲 Misaki健太くん、久しぶり！Kenta-kun, hisashiburi!Kenta, long time no see!
- 健太 Kenta元気だった？Genki datta?Have you been well?
- 美咲 Misakiうん、元気だよ。Un, genki dayo.Yeah, I'm doing well.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 久しぶり, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 久しぶり, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
