Greetings! Are you curious about how to express the concept of “long” in Chinese? You’ve come to the right place! In this guide, we’ll explore various ways to convey this idea, both formally and informally. We’ll also discuss any relevant regional variations. So, let’s get started and discover the many ways to say “long” in Chinese!
Table of Contents
1. Formal Ways
When it comes to formal language, Mandarin Chinese offers a few commonly used terms to describe the concept of “long.” Here are some examples:
a) 长 (cháng)
The word “长” is often used to express the idea of “long” in a formal context. It can refer to the physical length of an object, a duration of time, or even the long-term state of something. Let’s look at some examples:
这条河非常长。 (Zhè tiáo hé fēicháng cháng.)
Translation: This river is very long.会议持续了很长时间。 (Huìyì chíxù le hěn cháng shíjiān.)
Translation: The meeting lasted for a long time.他在这个公司工作已经有很长一段时间了。 (Tā zài zhè ge gōngsī gōngzuò yǐjīng yǒu hěn cháng yī duàn shíjiān le.)
Translation: He has been working at this company for a long time.
b) 漫长 (màncháng)
“漫长” is another formal term that emphasizes an extended or lengthy duration. It conveys a sense of something being excessively long or seemingly endless. Consider these examples:
这次旅行的飞行时间很漫长。 (Zhè cì lǚxíng de fēixíng shíjiān hěn màncháng.)
Translation: The flying time of this trip is very long.她等待了漫长的一天。 (Tā děngdài le màncháng de yī tiān.)
Translation: She waited for a long day.
2. Informal Ways
Now, let’s explore some informal and colloquial expressions frequently used by native Chinese speakers to describe “long.” Remember, these terms are informal and should be used in casual conversations:
a) 长长 (chángcháng)
The repetition of “长” with “长长” emphasizes the sense of something being long or lengthy. It’s a great way to casually describe the long nature of an object or time span:
那个电影真的很长长。 (Nèi ge diànyǐng zhēn de hěn chángcháng.)
Translation: That movie is really long.明天的计划是一整天疯狂的活动，会很长长。 (Míngtiān de jìhuà shì yī zhěng tiān fēngkuáng de huódòng, huì hěn chángcháng.)
Translation: Tomorrow’s plan is a whole day of crazy activities, which will be very long.
b) 历时 (lìshí)
“历时” is an informal term mainly used to denote a long-lasting process or time duration. It emphasizes the duration and is often used in informal conversations:
整个修建项目历时两年。 (Zhěng gè xiūjiàn xiàngmù lìshí liǎng nián.)
Translation: The entire construction project lasted for two years.这次测试历时三小时。 (Zhè cì cèshì lìshí sān xiǎoshí.)
Translation: This test lasted for three hours.
3. Conclusion
In conclusion, expressing the concept of “long” in Chinese can be done in different ways, depending on the level of formality. For formal contexts, words like “长” and “漫长” work well, while informal conversations often include terms like “长长” and “历时.” It’s important to choose the appropriate term based on the context and the level of formality required.
Remember to practice these expressions and engage with native speakers to improve your Mandarin skills. Feel free to use these phrases in various situations to sound more natural and communicate effectively.
Happy learning!
