久

jiǔ

HSK 2.0Level 3

HSK 3.0Level 3

Definitions

jiǔ (adjective) long time; lasting

Etymology

Depicts an arrow nock. The nock is the part of an arrow that is held against the bowstring before being launched. Same origin as 氒. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

About

The character 久 originally depicted an arrow nock, the notch at the rear of an arrow that rests against the bowstring before shooting, and is cognate with 氒. Its modern meaning of "a long time" arose through phonetic loan: the character was borrowed to write a word with a similar sound, and the original pictographic sense was lost. Today it conveys extended duration and frequently combines with other temporal characters to indicate prolonged delays, long waiting, or distant historical eras.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他等了很久。

Tā děngle hěn jiǔ.

He waited for a long time.

我们不久就要搬家。

Wǒmen bùjiǔ jiù yào bānjiā.

We will move house soon.

这场会议开了很久。

Zhè chǎng huìyì kāile hěn jiǔ.

This meeting lasted for a long time.

久坐不利于血液循环。

Jiǔ zuò bù lìyú xuèyè xúnhuán.

Sitting for a long time is not conducive to blood circulation.

他们的合作持久而稳定。

Tāmen de hézuò chíjiǔ ér wěndìng.

Their cooperation is lasting and stable.

这个问题困扰了我很久。

Zhège wèntí kùnrǎole wǒ hěn jiǔ.

This problem has troubled me for a long time.

久别之后，她变化很大。

Jiǔ bié zhīhòu, tā biànhuà hěn dà.

After a long separation, she has changed a lot.

这种油漆具有优异的耐久性。

Zhè zhǒng yóuqī jùyǒu yōuyì de nàijiǔ xìng.

This paint has excellent durability.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 久

久