长
cháng
The Chinese word for long is 长 (cháng).
长 is an adjective used to describe something that has much distance from one point to another. In specific contexts, related forms can mean to take a long position in finance (做多) or to aspire or wait (渴望).
Meaning: having much distance from one point to another (adj)
Which one should you use?
The character 长 is a polyphone. When pronounced as cháng, it means long. However, when it is pronounced as zhǎng, it means to grow or refers to an elder.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using 长 as an adjective to describe a noun in a simple sentence, it is common to place an adverb like 很 (hěn, very) before it, forming 很长.
How do you pronounce it?
cháng
Did you know?
- The phrase 长久 uses the word for 'long' to mean 'permanent' or 'lasting', often appearing in wedding wishes to describe a love that never ends.
- While 长 means 'long', the word for 'long' in the context of a 'long-term' relationship or a 'long-term' plan often uses 久 instead.
- The modern simplified character 长 is a simplified version of the traditional character 長.
Examples in context
- 他有长头发。He has long hair.This sentence uses 长 to describe hair.Tatoeba #4761437 by billt_estates, translation #705440 by papabear
- 它是封长信。It was a long letter.This sentence uses 长 to describe a letter.Tatoeba #5670808 by verdastelo9604, translation #42224 by CK
- 要多长时间？How long would it take?This sentence uses 长 to refer to a duration of time.Tatoeba #5780621 by verdastelo9604, translation #4666828 by CK
- 这条河非常长。This river is very long.
- 会议持续了很长时间。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。He has been working at this company for a long time.
- 这次旅行的飞行时间很漫长。The flying time of this trip is very long.
- 她等待了漫长的一天。She waited for a long day.
- 整个修建项目历时两年。The entire construction project lasted for two years.
- 这次测试历时三小时。This test lasted for three hours.
- 94 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a clothing store, checking the length of a scarf.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen这条围巾很长。Zhè tiáo wéijīn hěn cháng.This scarf is very long.
- 志强 Zhiqiang你不喜欢吗？Nǐ bù xǐhuān ma?Don't you like it?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen我很喜欢，但是太长了。Wǒ hěn xǐhuān, dànshì tài cháng le.I like it very much, but it is too long.
- 志强 Zhiqiang我们可以换短一点的。Wǒmen kěyǐ huàn duǎn yìdiǎn de.We can exchange it for a shorter one.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 长, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
