चिरान्न दृष्टम्
cirānna dṛṣṭam
The phrase "long time no see" in Sanskrit is expressed as चिरान्न दृष्टम् (cirānna dṛṣṭam).
This is an idiomatic expression used to indicate that you or a group of people have not seen someone for a long period of time.
Meaning: idiomatic: I (or we) have not seen you for a long time (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The expression is a compound where चिर (derived from cirā) means "long" or "a long time", and दृष्टम् is the past passive participle of the root dṛś (to see), meaning "seen".
How do you pronounce it?
cirānna dṛṣṭam
Did you know?
- The word दृष्टम् comes from the root दृश्, which is a distant ancestor of the English word 'see' and the Latin word 'vidēre'.
- The root dṛś used in दृष्टम् is the same root that gives us the word darśana, which refers to both the physical act of seeing and an entire school of Indian philosophy.
- The word चिर (long time) is often used in Sanskrit poetry to describe an eternity of waiting, elevating a casual greeting to a more poetic or dramatic level.
Examples in context
- चिरान्न दृष्टम्।cirānna dṛṣṭam.Long time no see.
- अत्र चिरान्न दृष्टम्।atra cirānna dṛṣṭam.I haven't seen you here for a long time.
Example conversation
Two friends meeting unexpectedly at a park.
- विवान Vivaanअनन्ये! चिरान्न दृष्टम्।ananye! cirānna dṛṣṭam.Ananya! Long time no see.
- अनन्या Ananyaविवान! भवान् कुत्र अस्ति?vivān! bhavān kutra asti?Vivan! Where have you been?
- विवान Vivaanअहं नगरे न आसम्।ahaṃ nagare na āsam.I was not in the city.
- अनन्या Ananyaइदानीं मिलित्वा आनन्दः अभवत्।idānīṃ militvā ānandaḥ abhavat.It is a joy to meet you now.
