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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing from afar with 老远 (lǎoyuǎn)

    Degree & Intensity
    Location & Position

    Structure

    (大) + 老远 + Verb

    Explanation

    The adverb 老远 (lǎoyuǎn) means "very far" or "a long way off" and emphasizes great distance in a colloquial way. The prefix 老 intensifies the meaning of 远 (far), and it often appears with 大 for further emphasis, as in 大老远过来的 (came from very far away).

    Examples

    • 他大老远跑过来就为了看你一眼。

      tā dà lǎo yuǎn pǎo guòlái jiù wèile kàn nǐ yī yǎn.

      He came all the way here just to see you.

    • 我老远就看见她在路口等我了。

      wǒ lǎo yuǎn jiù kànjiàn tā zài lùkǒu děng wǒ le.

      I saw her waiting for me at the intersection from far away.

    • 别大老远地跑来了，打个电话就行。

      bié dà lǎo yuǎn de pǎo lái le, dǎ gè diànhuà jiù xíng.

      Don't come all the way here — just give me a call.

    Expressing from afar with 老远 (lǎoyuǎn) | Chinese Grammar