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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing 'long (time)' with 久 (jiǔ)

    Time Expressions

    Structure

    Adverb + 久

    Explanation

    久 (jiǔ) is an adjective meaning "long" in terms of duration or time. It is often used with adverbs like 最 (most) or 很 (very) and appears in expressions describing how long something has lasted.

    Examples

    • 好久不见，你最近怎么样？

      hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn, nǐ zuìjìn zěnmeyàng?

      Long time no see, how have you been lately?

    • 这件事已经过了很久了，别再想了。

      zhè jiàn shì yǐjīng guò le hěn jiǔ le, bié zài xiǎng le.

      This matter happened a long time ago, stop thinking about it.

    • 他在国外住了很久，中文说得没以前好了。

      tā zài guówài zhù le hěn jiǔ, zhōngwén shuō de méi yǐqián hǎo le.

      He lived abroad for a long time, and his Chinese isn't as good as before.

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    Expressing 'long (time)' with 久 (jiǔ) | Chinese Grammar