Meeting someone again after a long time is a common situation, and Japanese has set phrases for it. In this workshop you will practice saying these greetings out loud, choosing between polite and casual forms, and responding when someone greets you first. You will work through three role-plays that get harder as you go: a supported first exchange, an unexpected complication, and a realistic follow-up decision about register. Each native example comes from a recording, and you will see its English meaning before you try it yourself. Speak along with the audio, repeat each line several times, and check your own answers at the end of each task.
Polite and Casual Greetings
The core phrase for this situation has a polite version and a casual version. The polite version is «お久しぶりです。», which means "Long time no see." It is a safe choice with acquaintances, coworkers, teachers, or anyone you address politely. The casual version is «久しぶり。», which also means "Long time no see." Use it with close friends, family, or people you normally speak to casually. Both lines carry the same basic meaning; the difference is the relationship and the tone. A third option adds a soft invitation for the other person to agree: «お久しぶりですね。» means "It's been a long time, hasn't it?" The ending invites a response rather than a simple acknowledgment. There is also a very casual line, «久しぶりじゃん。», which means "Hey, long time no see." It sounds friendly and informal, so save it for people you know well. When you practice, say each line slowly first, then at a natural speed. Pay attention to the length of the vowels and keep your voice calm and warm.
A Short Exchange: Greeting and Asking How Someone Has Been
Now look at a short exchange between two people who meet again. Person A says «あ、田中さん、お久しぶりです。», which means "Oh, Tanaka-san, long time no see." Person B replies with «こちらこそ、お久しぶりです。お元気でしたか。», which means "Likewise, long time no see. Have you been well?" Notice that B returns the greeting and then asks a follow-up question. Person A answers with «はい、元気です。田中さんもお元気そうですね。», which means "Yes, I'm well. You look well too, Tanaka-san." Person B closes with «ありがとうございます。またお会いできてうれしいです。», which means "Thank you. I'm glad we could meet again." This exchange shows a simple pattern: greet, return the greeting, ask how the other person has been, answer, and express happiness at meeting again. When you practice, try both roles. First read A's lines, then read B's lines. Keep the polite tone steady throughout, and let the question in «こちらこそ、お久しぶりです。お元気でしたか。» rise slightly at the end.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
お久しぶりです。
Long time no see. (polite)
o-hi-sa-shi-bu-ri-desu
久しぶり。
Long time no see. (casual)
hi-sa-shi-bu-ri
お久しぶりですね。
It's been a long time, hasn't it?
o-hi-sa-shi-bu-ri-desu-ne
久しぶりじゃん。
Hey, long time no see. (very casual)
hi-sa-shi-bu-ri jan
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
あ、田中さん、お久しぶりです。
Oh, Tanaka-san, long time no see.こちらこそ、お久しぶりです。お元気でしたか。
Likewise, long time no see. Have you been well?はい、元気です。田中さんもお元気そうですね。
Yes, I'm well. You look well too, Tanaka-san.ありがとうございます。またお会いできてうれしいです。
Thank you. I'm glad we could meet again.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Role-Play 1: Supported First Attempt at a Coworker Reunion
You are at the office entrance on a Monday morning. You see a coworker you have not seen for about six months. You speak first. The other person will return the greeting and ask how you have been.
Your task: Say the polite greeting «お久しぶりです。» out loud. Then imagine the other person says «こちらこそ、お久しぶりです。お元気でしたか。». Respond with «はい、元気です。田中さんもお元気そうですね。». Repeat the whole exchange three times, switching roles each time.
Role-Play 2: Unexpected Complication — The Other Person Greets First
You are at a class reunion. Before you can speak, a former teacher you have not seen for years greets you first with «お久しぶりですね。». You must return the greeting politely and ask how they have been, then respond when they answer.
Your task: Imagine the teacher says «お久しぶりですね。». Return the greeting with «こちらこそ、お久しぶりです。お元気でしたか。». Then imagine the teacher answers «はい、元気です。». Close the exchange with «ありがとうございます。またお会いできてうれしいです。». Say all three lines out loud in order.
Role-Play 3: Realistic Follow-Up Decision — Polite or Casual?
You are at a small gathering. A close friend you have not seen for a year runs up and says «久しぶりじゃん。». You must decide whether to answer with the casual «久しぶり。» or the polite «お久しぶりです。», then continue the exchange naturally.
Your task: First say your chosen reply out loud. Then, if you chose the casual reply, continue with «はい、元気です。田中さんもお元気そうですね。». If you chose the polite reply, continue with «こちらこそ、お久しぶりです。お元気でしたか。». Say the full two-line exchange out loud, then repeat it once with the other register so you can hear the difference.
Common questions
When should I use the polite greeting and when should I use the casual one?
Use the polite greeting «お久しぶりです。» with acquaintances, coworkers, teachers, or anyone you address politely. Use the casual greeting «久しぶり。» with close friends, family, or people you normally speak to casually. If you are unsure, the polite version is the safer choice.
What should I say after someone greets me with a long-time-no-see phrase?
You can return the greeting and then ask how the other person has been. A natural pattern is to say «こちらこそ、お久しぶりです。お元気でしたか。», which returns the greeting and asks if the person has been well. After that, you can answer with «はい、元気です。田中さんもお元気そうですね。» if you are the one being asked.
Sources and further reading
- japanese: long time no seeChecked September 2026
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Take today's Japanese into a conversation with a Yapr AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr