Daily Phrase
How to Say “Long Time No See” in Korean Naturally
Learn the difference between 이게 얼마 만이야? and 잘 지냈어?—two expressions Koreans actually use when they meet someone after a long time.
When you see someone for the first time in a long time, Koreans often say:
Or:
The other day, I was watching a K-drama called Spooky in Love, and I picked up these two expressions. Koreans use them all the time, but I don’t see them in textbooks very often.
These two expressions have slightly different nuances.
What Does “이게 얼마 만이야?” Mean?
You can say 이게 얼마 만이야? when you haven’t seen someone for quite a long time and you’re surprised or excited to see them again.
It looks like a question, but you’re not necessarily asking the other person to tell you exactly how long it has been.
It can also express surprise or excitement, almost like:
That’s why the other person can respond in different ways, such as:
Or:
Casual vs. Polite Korean
이게 얼마 만이야? is 반말, or casual Korean.
If you want to say it politely, you can say:
What Does “잘 지냈어?” Mean?
On the other hand, 잘 지냈어? is closer to:
It asks how the other person has been doing, although it can also be used as a casual greeting when you haven’t seen someone for a while.
For example:
You can answer:
Or, in polite Korean:
A More Casual Phrase Between Friends
There’s also an even simpler phrase you’ll hear a lot between friends:
This is a very natural way to greet a friend you haven’t seen in a while.
So next time you meet a Korean friend after a long time, instead of only saying 오랜만이에요, try one of these expressions:
- 이게 얼마 만이야?
- 잘 지냈어?
- 야, 오랜만이네!
They’ll make your Korean sound much more natural.
Want to Hear These Expressions in Real Korean?
Watch my short video on TikTok.