「Go-busata shite orimasu」: When「Hisashiburi」is not enough!

Have you ever run into an acquaintance, an old boss, or a customer you haven't contacted in a long time, whether on the street, at an event, or even scrolling through social media? 🤔

At that moment, your brain is 'loading' and the first sentence that comes out is usually...「あ、久しぶり！」(Ah, Long time no see!).

Not wrong, but with 10 years of experience in Japan, I've realized that in many cases, this phrase can make you seem a bit... 'casual' and unprofessional!

This is when the ultimate weapon appears: ✨ 「ご無沙汰しております」(Go-busata shite orimasu) ✨

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🤔 Why not「Hisashiburi」?

Both mean 'long time no see', but their nuances are a world apart:

• 久しぶり (Hisashiburi):

  • Used for friends, relatives, people with close relationships.
  • Has a casual, informal nature.
  • Using it with an old boss, customer, or an older person can be considered impolite.

• ご無沙汰しております (Go-busata shite orimasu):

  • Used for superiors, customers, partners, teachers, people with whom you need to maintain a polite distance.
  • Carries a humble meaning: 'I apologize for not being in touch/asking about you for a long time.' 🙏
  • Shows your appreciation for the relationship and your professionalism.

In other words, using ご無沙汰しております shows that you not only recognize them, but are also aware of the silent period between you two and express your respect for them.

🚀 The Perfect 'Comeback' Formula

To make your greeting natural and score absolute points, apply this formula:

[ Greeting ] + [ Inquiry about their well-being/Thanks for the past ]

Example 1: Meeting an old boss

「あ、田中部長！大変ご無沙汰しております。お元気そうで何よりです。」 (Ah, Manager Tanaka! It's been a long time. I'm glad to see you're doing well.)

Example 2: Meeting an old customer

「佐藤様、ご無沙汰しております。株式会社ABCの鈴木です。その節は大変お世話になりました。」 (Mr. Sato, it's been a long time. I'm Suzuki from ABC Corporation. Thank you for your great help back then.)

🙋‍♀️ What if someone says this to me?

Don't be flustered! Respond just as politely:

「こちらこそ、ご無沙汰しております。お変わりありませんか？」 (The pleasure is all mine, it's been a long time. How have you been?)

This response shows that you also feel sorry for not being in touch, creating a perfect balance in communication. 🤝

✨ Conclusion

In communication in Japan, choosing the right words for the person and situation is key to building good relationships. ご無沙汰しております is not just a greeting, it's an affirmation of your subtlety and appreciation.

Next time you 'reappear' in front of an old acquaintance, try using this phrase. You'll see the difference immediately! 😉