han2 gau2 bat1 gin3很久不見很久不见
Jyutpinghan2 gau2 bat1 gin3
Yalehán gáu bāt gin
Definition
Long time no see.
writtencommunicationpeople
How it's used
The phrase 很久不見 is strictly a written form and will sound unnatural or overly formal if spoken aloud in daily life. Cantonese speakers almost exclusively use 好耐冇見 to express this sentiment. Using the written version in speech can make you sound like you are reading from a script or a textbook.
Related words
Common phrases
long time no see
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 很久不見 in casual conversation because they encounter it in textbooks or written media. Always opt for the spoken equivalent 好耐冇見 to sound like a local.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
