ไม่ได้เจอกันนาน
mai dai choe kan nan
The English phrase "long time no see" is expressed in Thai as ไม่ได้เจอกันนาน (mai dai choe kan nan).
This phrase is used to express that you have not seen someone for a long time.
Meaning: idiomatic: I (or we) have not seen you for a long time (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ไม่ได้เจอกันนาน is composed of ไม่ได้ (not/did not), เจอ (to meet), กัน (each other) and นาน (long time).
Which one should you use?
You can use ไม่ได้เจอกันนานมาก to say you haven't seen each other for a long time. Another informal variation is นานแล้วไม่ได้เจอ, which translates literally to "It's been long. Didn't see."
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase more expressive, similar to saying "it's been ages", you can add ตั้ง before นาน to create ไม่ได้เจอกันตั้งนาน. Additionally, adding เลย at the end as in ไม่ได้เจอกันนานเลย is a common way to add emphasis in natural conversation, meaning "haven't seen you in a long time (at all)".
How do you pronounce it?
mai dai choe kan nan
Did you know?
- In Thai culture, the feeling of 'long time no see' is often expressed physically through a wai (pressing palms together) if the person being greeted is of a higher social status or older.
- The word เจอ ('to meet') is more casual than พบ ('to meet'). Using ไม่ได้พบกันนาน instead would sound strikingly formal, like something from a period drama or a royal announcement.
- The word กัน ('each other') in ไม่ได้เจอกันนาน is a reciprocal marker. Thai often uses these markers in places where English would simply use a pronoun, making the interaction feel more collective.
Examples in context
- ไม่ได้เจอกันนานเลยนะคะmai dai joe gan naan loei na kaIt has been a long time since we last saw each other.
- ไม่ได้เจอกันนานเลยนะคุณmai dai joe gan naan loei na khunLong time no see.
- ไม่ได้เจอกันนาน สบายดีไหมmai dai joe gan naan sa-baai dee maiLong time no see, how are you?
Example conversation
Two former classmates run into each other at a cafe.
- สิรินทร์ Sirinธีรภัทร ไม่ได้เจอกันนานเลยนะtheeraphat mai dai joe gan naan loei naTheeraphat, long time no see.
- ธีรภัทร Theeraphatใช่ครับ สิรินทร์ สบายดีไหมchai krap sirin sa-baai dee maiYes, Sirin. How are you?
- สิรินทร์ Sirinสบายดีค่ะ แล้วคุณล่ะsa-baai dee ka laeo khun laI'm fine. And you?
- ธีรภัทร Theeraphatผมก็สบายดีครับphom gor sa-baai dee krapI am doing well too.
