‘久违’ literally means ‘long separation’—‘久’ (jiǔ) means ‘long time’ and ‘违’ (wéi) means ‘to be apart from’ or ‘to depart from.’ Together, they form a formal, respectful expression used when greeting someone you haven’t seen in a long time. It conveys warmth and courtesy, often implying mutual respect and shared history.

This phrase is commonly used in spoken and written Chinese among adults—especially in professional, academic, or elder-respect contexts—and is rarely used among close friends or children, who would say ‘好久不见’ instead. It’s frequently heard at reunions, conferences, or when meeting former teachers, colleagues, or distant relatives. Though grammatically a noun or interjection, it functions as a complete greeting phrase and is almost always followed by a pause or a smile—not a verb.