12/17   Is the line "Long time no see." really common English?  I've use it so
        many times writing to my Asian friends and now I've confused myself.
        Thx.  --- Asian
        \_ Yes, it's common English. My Chinese teacher always guessed that
           it was a direct translation of "chang shi bu jian" that made
           its way into the mainstream of American English back in the 19th
           century.  She had no proof of that though, it was just a guess.
        \_ Use that phrase when you actually see people, not when you write
           to them.
        \_ It's a colloquialism, like "What's up?"
        \_ To be used with friends.  Don't use it with others such as your
           manager at work, for example.  Not a good career move.  :-)
        \_ common phrase.  must have come from the asian community and
           adopted by others.  Am I biting on a troll?
        \_ I wondered about that too.  My guess would be that it is a
           direct translation of "hao jiu bu jian" (using commie
           romanization here).  However I see many white guys using the
           phrase too.