许久 (xǔ jiǔ) — for a long time; for ages | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A written-form adverb meaning 'for a long time / for ages,' used for emphasis. In writing you may also see 很久 with the same sense, but 许久 sounds more formal and literary.

adverb

for a long timefor ages

Examples

许久，。
Wǒ men děng le xǔ jiǔ, tā zhōng yú lái le.
We waited for a long time, and finally he came.
许久。
Tā men xǔ jiǔ méi yǒu jiàn miàn le.
They haven't seen each other for a long time.
许久。
Tā chén mò le xǔ jiǔ cái kāi kǒu shuō huà.
He was silent for a long time before speaking.

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.

久jiǔlong time

It means quite long: 许 adds the sense of much and 久 refers to long time.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 許; 许 is its simplified writing.

言午許

Meaning part形符xíngfú

言言yánspeech; words

Sound part声符shēngfú

午

午wǔ許xǔ

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 許 pairs 言, meaning speech or words, with 午 for its sound; 许 is a simplified form.

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.

Appears in

Frequency & Duration

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