Song Lyrics • Eason Chan • Beginner–Intermediate
好久不见
Hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn
Long Time No See
Why Learn With This Song
好久不见 is one of the most accessible Eason Chan songs for learners — the vocabulary is mostly beginner-level, the grammar is conversational, and the central phrase 好久不见 is something you can use from day one. The song is built around time expressions (以前, 那年, 那些) and the concept of losing and regaining contact — vocabulary that is genuinely practical. The 是否 construction and 想起 resultative complement are the two grammar items worth studying carefully.
Key Vocabulary
| 汉字 Chinese | 拼音 Pīnyīn | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 好久不见 | hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn | long time no see | 好久 = for a long time. 不见 = haven't seen. This phrase is used both as a greeting and as the song's central emotional image. It's also the English expression's actual Chinese origin |
| 不知道 | bù zhīdào | don't know; I'm not sure | 知道 = to know (a fact). 不知道 = I don't know. One of the most common phrases in spoken Mandarin. 不知 (literary) vs 不知道 (everyday) |
| 你是否 | nǐ shìfǒu | whether you; if you | 是否 = whether or not (literary/formal yes-no). More formal than 还是 or 有没有 in spoken use. Common in song lyrics and writing |
| 会想起 | huì xiǎng qǐ | would think of; will recall | 会 = will/would (habitual/predictive). 想起 = to recall (想 think + 起 rise — the thought 'rises up'). This resultative complement is essential |
| 以前 | yǐqián | before; in the past; previously | The standard word for 'in the past/before this'. 以前 = before a point in time. 以后 (yǐhòu) = after. These two form a core time pair |
| 联系 | liánxì | to contact; to get in touch; connection | 联 = to connect/link; 系 = to tie. 保持联系 = keep in touch. 失去联系 = lose contact. Extremely common in everyday speech |
| 那些 | nàxiē | those (things/people) | 那 = that; 些 = some/a few (pluralising marker for 这/那). 这些 = these; 那些 = those. Used before nouns: 那些年 = those years |
| 回忆 | huíyì | memory; recollection; to recall | 回 = to return; 忆 = to remember. 回忆 = looking back at memories. Can be noun (memories) or verb (to reminisce). 美好的回忆 = beautiful memories |
| 还好吗 | hái hǎo ma | are you still okay; how are you doing | 还 = still. 好 = good/well. 还好 = 'doing okay' or 'so-so' depending on context. As a question: 你还好吗? = Are you doing alright? |
| 改变 | gǎibiàn | to change; to alter | 改 = to change/correct; 变 = to transform. 改变 = to bring about a change (often intentional). Compare: 变化 (biànhuà) = change (as a process/result) |
| 那年 | nà nián | that year; back then | 那 + time word = 'that [time]'. 那年, 那时 (that time), 那天 (that day). Evocative of nostalgia in both song and speech |
| 心痛 | xīntòng | heartache; heartbroken | 心 = heart; 痛 = pain/ache. 心痛 = heartache (emotional). 胃痛 = stomach ache, 头痛 = headache — body-part + 痛 is the standard pain compound pattern |
Annotated Verses (First 2 Verses Only)
Full lyrics available on licensed platforms. These verses are reproduced for educational annotation only.
Verse 1
我来到你的城市
Wǒ lái dào nǐ de chéngshì
I have come to your city
来到 = to come to/arrive at (来 movement + 到 reaching a destination). 你的城市 = your city. 到 as result complement marks completion of movement.
走过你来时的路
Zǒuguò nǐ lái shí de lù
Walking the road you once came by
走过 = to walk past/through (过 = experiential aspect). 你来时的路 = 'the road from when you came' (你来时 = when you came — nominal clause with 时).
想象着没我的日子
Xiǎngxiàng zhe méi wǒ de rìzi
Imagining the days without me
想象 = to imagine. 着 = continuous aspect (ongoing action). 没我的 = without me (没 negation + 我 + 的 as modifier). 日子 = days/life.
Verse 2
你会不会忽然的出现
Nǐ huì bu huì hūrán de chūxiàn
Would you suddenly appear
会不会 = will or won't (affirmative-negative question pattern for yes/no). 忽然 = suddenly. 出现 = to appear/emerge.
在某个人海里
Zài mǒu gè rénhǎi lǐ
In some sea of people
某个 = some/a certain (unspecified). 人海 = sea of people (人 people + 海 sea) — a beautiful compound for crowd. 里 = inside/within.
带着笑脸
Dài zhe xiàoliǎn
Wearing a smile on your face
带着 = wearing/carrying (continuous aspect). 笑脸 = smiling face (笑 smile + 脸 face). 脸 = face (physical); 面 = face (social).
Cultural Context
好久不见 (2003) became one of the anthems of a generation of Chinese young people who experienced the era of massive internal migration — when city-dwellers moved away from hometown friends, and reunions became rare and emotionally charged. The phrase 好久不见 captures a peculiarly Chinese social ritual: the awkward, nostalgic, bittersweet meeting of people who were once close but have grown apart.
Linguistically, 好久不见 is worth studying because it is also the direct source of the English phrase “long time no see” — which originated as a literal translation of the Chinese by early Chinese immigrants to English-speaking countries. Knowing this etymology connects you to a fascinating piece of linguistic history.
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