天长日久 (tiān cháng rì jiǔ) — as time goes on; after a long period of time

Definition

An idiom meaning 'over a long stretch of time' — used at the start or middle of a sentence to stress that something gradual happens as time accumulates.

idiom
as time goes onafter a long period of time

Examples

  • 天长日久，。
    tiān cháng rì jiǔ, Tā men de yǒu yì yuè lái yuè shēn.
    As time goes on, their friendship grows deeper and deeper.
  • 天长日久，。
    tiān cháng rì jiǔ, Zhè ge xí guàn jiù yǎng chéng le.
    After a long time, this habit will be formed.
  • 天长日久，。
    tiān cháng rì jiǔ, Tā màn màn xué huì le nài xīn.
    Over the long course of time, he gradually learned patience.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
大大dà
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng天tiān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape comes from a frontal standing man 大 with a head; 天 pairs 大 with 丁 for sound.

Open 天 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 長; 长 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 長 pictures an old man with long hair. The simplified 长 is a later shorthand, so its strokes do not show that original picture.

Open 长 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

日 originally drew the sun. A mark was added inside to tell it apart from similar square shapes.

Open 日 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

久 likely came from a simple drawing of an arrow tip.

Open 久 →

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