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 phrase joins चिरात् (after a long time), न (not) and दृष्टम्, the past passive participle of dṛś (to see). By sandhi चिरात् + न becomes चिरान्न, so the whole means "not seen for a long time".
How do you pronounce it?
cirānna dṛṣṭam
Did you know?
- 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
- 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 आसीत्?vivān! bhavān kutra āsīt?Vivan! Where have you been?
- विवान Vivaanअहं नगरे न आसम्।ahaṃ nagare na āsam.I was not in the city.
- अनन्या Ananyaइदानीं त्वां दृष्ट्वा अहं प्रसन्ना अस्मि।idānīṃ tvāṃ dṛṣṭvā ahaṃ prasannā asmi.I am happy to see you now.
