Hello, I’m Kodak.
When Japanese speakers meet or contact someone after a long interval, you will often hear:
Hisashiburi!
Long time no see!お久しぶりです。
Ohisashiburi desu.
It has been a while.お久しぶりですね。
Ohisashiburi desu ne.
It has been a while, hasn’t it?
They share the same basic meaning, but their level of politeness differs:
久しぶり is casual.
お久しぶりです is polite.
お久しぶりですね is polite and warmly acknowledges the time apart.
Quick answer
久しぶり (hisashiburi) describes something happening again after a long interval.
As a greeting, it means “Long time no see!” or “It’s been a while!”
Add お and です to make it polite:
お久しぶりです。
Add ね to share the feeling with the other person:
お久しぶりですね。
However, 久しぶり is not only a greeting. It can also mean:
・experiencing something again after a long interval
・the first occurrence of something in a long time
・returning after a stated number of days, months, or years
What Does Hisashiburi Mean?
Hiragana: ひさしぶり
Alternative kanji spelling: 久し振り
Romaji: hisashiburi
Basic meaning: after a long time; for the first time in a while
Greeting: Long time no see! / It’s been a while!
Japanese dictionaries define 久しぶり as a long period passing between a previous experience and the same thing happening again.
久しぶり！元気だった？
Hisashiburi! Genki datta?
Long time no see! How have you been?
久しぶりに友達と会った。
Hisashiburi ni tomodachi to atta.
I met my friend for the first time in a long time.
Not exactly. “Long time no see” is a natural translation when it is used as a greeting.
The wider core meaning is “again after a long interval.” That is why it can describe seeing a person, eating a food, visiting a place, rain falling, or almost any repeated experience.
Long time no see!
⇒ Greeting after not meeting or speaking for a while久しぶりに映画を見た。
I watched a movie for the first time in a while.
⇒ An activity repeated after a long interval久しぶりの雨だ。
It is the first rain in a long time.
⇒ An event occurring again after a long interval
What Does Ohisashiburi Desu Ne Mean?
Hiragana: おひさしぶりですね
Romaji: ohisashiburi desu ne
Natural English: It has been a while, hasn’t it? / Long time no see.
お久しぶりですね is a polite greeting that recognizes that both speakers have experienced a long interval since their previous meeting or contact.
佐藤さん、お久しぶりですね。
Satou-san, ohisashiburi desu ne.
Mr./Ms. Sato, it has been a while, hasn’t it?
本当にお久しぶりですね。お元気でしたか？
Hontou ni ohisashiburi desu ne. Ogenki deshita ka?
It really has been a long time. How have you been?
Usually not a factual question.
The particle ね invites shared agreement: both people recognize that a long time has passed. It can make the greeting feel warmer and more conversational.
It has been a while.
⇒ A polite statement or greetingお久しぶりですね。
It has been a while, hasn’t it?
⇒ Politely shares the observation with the listener
Hisashiburi vs Ohisashiburi Desu: Politeness Explained
Very natural and casual
⇒ close friends, family, partners, casual classmates久しぶりだね。
Casual and friendly
⇒ “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”久しぶりですね。
Polite sentence ending, but without the honorific prefix お
⇒ possible in moderately polite conversation
お久しぶりです。
Standard polite form
⇒ acquaintances, teachers, senior coworkers, people you do not know closely
お久しぶりですね。
Standard polite form with a warm shared nuance
⇒ polite reunion or renewed contact
A Simple Beginner Rule
⇒ 久しぶり！ / 久しぶりだね。Teacher, senior coworker, older acquaintance, or someone you are not close to?
⇒ お久しぶりです。 / お久しぶりですね。Formal business contact after a long silence?
⇒ ご無沙汰しております。
Not sure?
⇒ お久しぶりです。
What Do お, です, and ね Add?
お: A Polite Prefix
The prefix お adds politeness or respect to the expression.
casualお久しぶり
respectful/polite base used in お久しぶりです
です: A Polite Sentence Ending
です turns the expression into a polite statement.
ね: Shared Recognition
ね asks the listener to share or agree with the speaker’s feeling.
No. It is politely friendly rather than ceremonial.
For a highly formal business message—especially when you have failed to contact someone—ご無沙汰しております is often more appropriate.
How to Pronounce Hisashiburi
ひ・さ・し・ぶ・り
hi-sa-shi-bu-ri
5 moraeお久しぶりです
お・ひ・さ・し・ぶ・り・で・す
o-hi-sa-shi-bu-ri-de-su
8 moraeお久しぶりですね
お・ひ・さ・し・ぶ・り・で・す・ね
o-hi-sa-shi-bu-ri-de-su-ne
9 morae
Keep the Japanese beats relatively even. Avoid placing one strong English-style stress on HI or BU.
The final u may be weak or devoiced in natural standard Japanese.
Learn the full form de-su, but do not force the final vowel to sound heavily pronounced.
How Is Hisashiburi Written in Japanese?
久しぶりAlternative spelling:
久し振りAll hiragana:
ひさしぶり
Polite form:
お久しぶりです
Katakana for stylistic emphasis:
ヒサシブリ
久しぶり, with only 久 in kanji, is very common in modern writing. 久し振り is also correct and appears in dictionaries.
Normally, write it in hiragana: お久しぶりです.
Using 御久しぶり would look unusual in ordinary modern writing.
The Core Image and Origin of Hisashiburi
The core idea is:
↓
A long interval
↓
The same person, activity, or event appears again
↓
久しぶり
The word is connected with 久しい (hisashii), meaning that a long time has passed, and the pattern ～ぶり, which can mark the amount of time before something happens again.
a long time has passed～ぶり
an interval before a repeated event久しぶり
again after a long interval
A dictionary records an early example of 久しぶり in a kyōgen text from around the end of the Muromachi period to the beginning of the early modern period.
Not in the modern meaning of this expression.
Do not imagine someone “shaking for a long time.” Learn 久しぶり as a fixed word meaning that something happens again after a long interval.
How to Use Hisashiburi as a Greeting
1. Meeting a Close Friend
Long time no see!B: 久しぶり！元気だった？
Long time no see! How have you been?
2. Meeting an Acquaintance Politely
It has been a while.B: お久しぶりです。お元気でしたか？
It has been a while. How have you been?
3. Warmly Recognizing the Reunion
Mr./Ms. Tanaka, it has been a while, hasn’t it?B: 本当ですね。お会いできてうれしいです。
It really has. I’m happy to see you.
4. Contacting Someone by Message
お久しぶりです。お元気ですか？
Ohisashiburi desu. Ogenki desu ka?
It has been a while. How are you?
5. Starting a Friendly Email After a Gap
お久しぶりです。その後、いかがお過ごしですか。
Ohisashiburi desu. Sono go, ikaga osugoshi desu ka?
It has been a while. How have you been since then?
Yes, if you mean that seeing each other in person is久しぶり.
You can make the point explicit:
直接会うのは久しぶりだね。
“It’s been a while since we met in person.”
How Long Is “A Long Time”?
There is no fixed number of days, weeks, or months required before you can say 久しぶり.
One or two weeks may feel like 久しぶり.Friends who normally meet every few months
Several months may feel ordinary rather than 久しぶり.An activity you usually do every week
Doing it again after two months can be 久しぶり.
A place you visited years ago
Returning after many years is clearly 久しぶり.
Yes. With the right tone, it can be humorous or affectionate—especially if you normally see each other constantly.
The feeling of the interval depends on the relationship and usual frequency.
Grammar Pattern 1: 久しぶりに + Verb
Use 久しぶりに before a verb when you do something again after a long interval.
to do something for the first time in a long time
久しぶりに映画を見た。
Hisashiburi ni eiga o mita.
I watched a movie for the first time in a while.
久しぶりに日本語を話しました。
Hisashiburi ni nihongo o hanashimashita.
I spoke Japanese for the first time in a long time.
久しぶりに家族へ電話した。
Hisashiburi ni kazoku e denwa shita.
I called my family for the first time in a while.
Not in the standard pattern. Use 久しぶりに when it modifies a verb:
久しぶりに映画を見た。
Grammar Pattern 2: 久しぶりの + Noun
Use 久しぶりの before a noun when the noun represents the first occurrence or experience in a long time.
the first noun in a long time
久しぶりの休日です。
Hisashiburi no kyuujitsu desu.
It is my first day off in a long time.
今日は久しぶりの雨だ。
Kyou wa hisashiburi no ame da.
Today is the first rainy day in a long time.
久しぶりの旅行を楽しみました。
Hisashiburi no ryokou o tanoshimimashita.
I enjoyed my first trip in a long time.
久しぶりに旅行した = I traveled for the first time in a while.The second modifies a noun:
久しぶりの旅行 = my first trip in a while.
Grammar Pattern 3: Time Period + ぶり
When you know the exact interval, replace the vague 久し with a duration.
to do something for the first time in that periodtime period + ぶりの + noun
the first noun/event in that periodtime period + ぶりだ
it has been that period
三年ぶりに日本へ行きました。
Sannen buri ni Nihon e ikimashita.
I went to Japan for the first time in three years.
彼に会うのは半年ぶりです。
Kare ni au no wa hantoshi buri desu.
It has been six months since I last saw him.
十年ぶりの再会でした。
Juunen buri no saikai deshita.
It was our first reunion in ten years.
It can be used conversationally, but it normally needs more context:
三年ぶりだね！
“It’s been three years!”
The general greeting by itself is 久しぶり！
How to Respond to Hisashiburi
Casual Response
Long time no see!B: 久しぶり！元気だった？
Long time no see! How have you been?
Polite Response
It has been a while.B: お久しぶりです。お元気でしたか？
It has been a while. How have you been?
Responding to お久しぶりですね
It has been a while, hasn’t it?B: 本当ですね。お会いできてうれしいです。
It really has. I’m happy to see you.
No. Simply returning the greeting is natural.
Then you can continue with:
元気だった？ — How have you been? casual
お元気でしたか？ — How have you been? polite
最近どう？ — How are things lately? casual
Hisashiburi vs Gobusata Shite Orimasu
お久しぶりです and ご無沙汰しております can appear in similar situations, but they do not have exactly the same nuance.
It has been a while.
⇒ Politely recognizes the long interval
⇒ Friendly or neutralご無沙汰しております
I apologize for not contacting or visiting you for a long time.
⇒ Formal and humble
⇒ Contains a nuance of acknowledging your long silence or lack of contact
ご無沙汰しております is usually safer because it respectfully acknowledges the long lack of contact.
For a friendly former classmate, お久しぶりです may be enough.
お久しぶりです。お元気でしたか？Formal email after a long silence:
大変ご無沙汰しております。
I sincerely apologize for not contacting you for a long time.
Hisashiburi vs Hisabisa
Common as a greeting and in everyday grammar久々 (hisabisa)
After a long time; for the first time in a while
Often concise and slightly more written or descriptive
久しぶりに運動した。
Hisashiburi ni undou shita.
I exercised for the first time in a while.
久々に運動した。
Hisabisa ni undou shita.
I exercised for the first time in a while.
Natural Conversations Using Hisashiburi
Conversation 1: Old Friends
Wow, long time no see!B: 久しぶり！元気だった？
Long time no see! How have you been?A: 元気だよ。最近どう？
I’m good. How have things been lately?
Conversation 2: Former Teacher
Teacher, it has been a while.Teacher: お久しぶりですね。お元気でしたか？
It has been a while, hasn’t it? How have you been?Student: はい、おかげさまで元気です。
Yes, I’m well, thank you.
Conversation 3: Meeting a Coworker Again
It has been a while. So you have returned here.B: はい、先週戻りました。
Yes, I came back last week.
Conversation 4: Messaging a Friend
Long time no see! Sorry for messaging you out of the blue.B: 久しぶり！どうしたの？
It’s been a while! What’s up?
Conversation 5: Formal Email
山田先生
大変ご無沙汰しております。以前、先生の授業を受講しておりましたスミスです。
It has been a long time since I contacted you. This is Smith, who previously attended your class.
Hisashiburi in Anime and Manga
Anime and manga may use short versions to show a character’s personality or relationship.
It’s been a while.
⇒ casual; can sound masculine, serious, nostalgic, or confrontational depending on tone久しぶりだね。
It’s been a while, hasn’t it?
⇒ friendly or gentleお久しぶりです。
It has been a while.
⇒ polite or emotionally distant
ずいぶん久しぶりじゃない。
Well, it has certainly been a long time.
⇒ surprise, criticism, or playful reproach depending on tone
何年ぶりだ？
How many years has it been?
⇒ dramatic reunion
The words themselves are not threatening.
A slow voice, old rivalry, dark scene, or sentence ending such as な can make a neutral reunion phrase feel dramatic.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using Casual 久しぶり With Everyone
久しぶり！
NaturalFormer professor:
久しぶり！
May sound too casualSafer:
先生、お久しぶりです。
Mistake 2: Forgetting に Before a Verb
久しぶり映画を見た。Correct:
久しぶりに映画を見た。
Mistake 3: Forgetting の Before a Noun
久しぶり旅行Correct:
久しぶりの旅行
Mistake 4: Translating It Only as “Long Time No See”
That translation works for the greeting, but not every sentence.
I ate sushi for the first time in a while.Not:
Long time no see, I ate sushi.
Mistake 5: Using It After Any Short Interval
There is no fixed rule, but the interval should feel noticeably longer than usual unless you are joking.
Mistake 6: Treating お久しぶりですね as a Real Information Question
The ね usually seeks shared emotional agreement, not an exact answer about how many days have passed.
Mistake 7: Using お久しぶりです in Every Formal Email
When your own lack of contact requires acknowledgment, ご無沙汰しております may be more respectful and contextually accurate.
Mistake 8: Writing おひさし振りです Inconsistently
Mixed spellings may be understandable, but the clean beginner forms are:
お久しぶりです
お久しぶりですね
More Natural Example Sentences
久しぶり！会いたかったよ。
Hisashiburi! Aitakatta yo.
Long time no see! I missed you.
お久しぶりです。お変わりありませんか？
Ohisashiburi desu. Okawari arimasen ka?
It has been a while. Have you been well?
本当にお久しぶりですね。
Hontou ni ohisashiburi desu ne.
It really has been a long time, hasn’t it?
久しぶりに高校の友達に会った。
Hisashiburi ni koukou no tomodachi ni atta.
I met a high school friend for the first time in a long time.
久しぶりに母の料理を食べた。
Hisashiburi ni haha no ryouri o tabeta.
I ate my mother’s cooking for the first time in a while.
今日は久しぶりの休みです。
Kyou wa hisashiburi no yasumi desu.
Today is my first day off in a long time.
久しぶりの青空を見た。
Hisashiburi no aozora o mita.
I saw a blue sky for the first time in a while.
五年ぶりに故郷へ帰った。
Gonen buri ni furusato e kaetta.
I returned to my hometown for the first time in five years.
二か月ぶりに彼から連絡が来た。
Nikagetsu buri ni kare kara renraku ga kita.
He contacted me for the first time in two months.
直接お会いするのは久しぶりですね。
Chokusetsu oai suru no wa hisashiburi desu ne.
It has been a while since we met in person, hasn’t it?
久しぶりに運動したので、筋肉痛になった。
Hisashiburi ni undou shita node, kinnikuutsuu ni natta.
I exercised for the first time in a while, so my muscles became sore.
お久しぶりです。その後いかがお過ごしでしょうか。
Ohisashiburi desu. Sono go ikaga osugoshi deshou ka.
It has been a while. How have you been since then?
ご無沙汰しております。ご連絡が遅くなり申し訳ありません。
Gobusata shite orimasu. Gorenraku ga osoku nari moushiwake arimasen.
I apologize for my long silence and for contacting you so late.
FAQ About Hisashiburi
What does hisashiburi mean in English?
As a greeting, 久しぶり means “Long time no see” or “It’s been a while.” More generally, it means that something happens again after a long interval.
What does ohisashiburi desu ne mean?
お久しぶりですね means “It has been a while, hasn’t it?” It is a polite and warmly conversational way to recognize the time since your previous meeting or contact.
What is the difference between hisashiburi and ohisashiburi?
久しぶり is casual. お久しぶりです and お久しぶりですね are polite and suitable for people with whom you do not use casual Japanese.
How do you respond to hisashiburi?
Return the greeting with 久しぶり！ casually or お久しぶりです politely. You can then ask 元気だった？ or お元気でしたか？
Can I use hisashiburi in a text message?
Yes. 久しぶり！元気？ is natural with a friend. Use お久しぶりです in a polite message.
How long do you wait before saying hisashiburi?
There is no fixed period. The interval only needs to feel long relative to how often the people normally meet or how often the activity normally occurs.
What is the difference between ohisashiburi desu and gobusata shite orimasu?
お久しぶりです neutrally and politely recognizes a long interval. ご無沙汰しております is more formal and humbly acknowledges that you have not visited or contacted the person for a long time.
How do you say “for the first time in a long time” in Japanese?
Use 久しぶりに before a verb: 久しぶりに映画を見た, “I watched a movie for the first time in a long time.”
How do you say “the first vacation in a long time”?
Use 久しぶりの before a noun: 久しぶりの休暇 or 久しぶりの旅行.
How do you say “for the first time in three years”?
Use 三年ぶりに before a verb: 三年ぶりに日本へ行った.
Is hisashiburi formal?
The standalone 久しぶり is casual. The polite form is お久しぶりです.
Is ohisashiburi desu ne a question?
It is usually not a request for factual information. The final ね invites the listener to share the observation that a long time has passed.
How do you write hisashiburi in kanji?
The common modern spelling is 久しぶり. 久し振り is also correct, and the all-hiragana form is ひさしぶり.
Summary: Hisashiburi and Ohisashiburi Desu Ne
Casual “Long time no see” or “after a long time.”● お久しぶりです
Polite “It has been a while.”● お久しぶりですね
Polite “It has been a while, hasn’t it?” The ね adds shared recognition and warmth.
● Core image
Something happens again after a long interval.
● Before a verb
久しぶりに + verb
久しぶりに映画を見た。
● Before a noun
久しぶりの + noun
久しぶりの旅行
● Exact interval
time period + ぶり
三年ぶりに会った。
● Formal long silence
ご無沙汰しております is more formal and acknowledges that you have not contacted or visited the person.
● Writing
久しぶり / 久し振り / ひさしぶり
References
- Kotobank: 久し振り — definition and common grammatical examples.
- Kotobank: 久振 — historical example from a late-Muromachi/early-modern kyōgen text.
- Kotobank: 久しい — meanings relating to the passage of a long time.
- Kotobank Japanese–English Dictionary: ～振り — the elapsed-time pattern, including examples such as 五年ぶり.
- Kotobank Japanese–English Dictionary: 久し振り — translations including “Long time no see” and “after a long time.”
- Kotobank: 御無沙汰 — meaning and apologetic use after a long absence or silence.
- Kotobank: 久々 — meaning and usage of hisabisa.