How to say “Long time no see” in Korean
- 오랜만이에요oraenmanieyo
Long time no see
"Long time no see" in Korean is 오랜만이에요 (oraenmanieyo), or 오랜만이야 (oraenmaniya) with friends. It literally means "It's been a long time", and is usually followed by 잘 지냈어요? (Have you been well?).
Ways to say it
| Korean | Level | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 오랜만이야 oraenmaniya | Casual | To friends and younger people. Often with 진짜 (really) or 와 (wow) in front. |
| 오랜만이에요 oraenmanieyo | Polite | The polite everyday version for coworkers, acquaintances and older people. |
| 오랜만입니다 oraenmanimnida | Formal | Formal, for business contacts or someone much older. |
| 오래간만이에요 oraeganmanieyo | Polite | The full, slightly old-fashioned form of 오랜만이에요. Same meaning. |
| 잘 지냈어요 jal jinaesseoyo | Polite | "Have you been well?" Said as a question, and the natural follow-up. |
Examples
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Bumping into an old friend
Visiting a former teacher
Texting a friend you haven't seen in months
Tips
The spelling is 오랜만, not 오랫만. Even Koreans mix this up.
오랜만에 (with 에) means "for the first time in a long time", as in 오랜만에 영화 봤어 (I watched a movie for the first time in ages).
More on 잘 지냈어요 in our Korean phrase guides.
Questions learners ask
How do you reply to long time no see in Korean?
Repeat it back, 네, 오랜만이에요 (ne, oraenmanieyo), and ask 잘 지냈어요? (Have you been well?).
Is it oraenman or oraetman?
The correct spelling is 오랜만 (oraenman).