良久 (liáng jiǔ) — a long time (literary; used in formal or written language)

Definition

Literary/formal way to say 'a long time,' mostly seen in writing. Use 很久 in everyday speech instead.

noun
a long time (literary; used in formal or written language)

Examples

  • 良久，。
    Guò le liáng jiǔ, tā cái chū xiàn.
    After a long time, she finally appeared.
  • 良久，。
    Sī kǎo liáng jiǔ hòu, tā zuò chū le jué dìng.
    After thinking for a long time, he made a decision.
  • 良久。
    Liǎng gè chéng shì zhī jiān de jù lí xū yào liáng jiǔ cái néng zǒu wán.
    The distance between the two cities takes a long time to cover.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

良liánggood
久jiǔlong time

良 and 久 together mean a good while.

Characters in this word

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

良 possibly depicts corridors and a room.

Open 良 →

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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