Translation guide
Expressing that a long duration has passed, often with a sense of 'it's been a while' or 'for a long time'. Japanese uses various time-related words and phrases depending on the nuance.
Greeting someone you haven't seen in a while, or remarking on the passage of time since an event.
The most common way to say 'long time no see' in casual settings. Can be used alone or with です for politeness.
久しぶり！元気だった？
Long time no see! How have you been?
お久しぶりです。
It's been a long time. (polite)
Literally 'for a while', often used in the phrase しばらくですね meaning 'it's been a while, hasn't it?'.
しばらくですね。
It's been a while, hasn't it?
A formal expression used when you haven't contacted someone for a long time, often in letters or emails.
ご無沙汰しております。
I apologize for not being in touch for so long. (very formal)
Describing an action or state that continues over a long period.
The most direct translation, meaning 'for a long time'. Used in both positive and negative sentences.
長い間お世話になりました。
Thank you for everything you've done for me over the long time.
長い間待っていた。
I waited for a long time.
A more formal term for 'long period', often used in business or technical contexts.
An adverb meaning 'all along', 'continuously', or 'for a long time'. Emphasizes the continuous nature.
Specifically refers to a long duration of hours, like 'for many hours'.
Something happens after a long interval or absence.
Adverbial form meaning 'for the first time in a long time'. Used with verbs.
久しぶりに映画を見た。
I watched a movie for the first time in a long time.
Similar to 久しぶりに, but slightly more casual or less common.
しばらくぶりに故郷に帰った。
I returned to my hometown after a long time.
Referring to something that happened far in the past.
Means 'a long time ago', emphasizing the distance in time.
ずっと前に引っ越しました。
I moved a long time ago.
Literally 'great antiquity', used for very ancient times or hyperbolically.
大昔の話だ。
That's a story from a long, long time ago.
Both can mean 'it's been a while', but 久しぶり is more common as a greeting. しばらく is often used in the phrase しばらくですね and can also mean 'for a while' in other contexts.
While 長い時間 is grammatically correct, it's often more natural to use 長い間 or ずっと depending on the context. 長い時間 is used for specific durations of hours.
長期間の使用に耐える。
It withstands long-term use.
I've known for a long time.
ずっと雨が降っている。
It's been raining for a long time.
長時間労働は健康に悪い。
Long working hours are bad for your health.