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很长时间
hěn cháng shí jiān
a long time
我等了他很长时间。
I waited for him for a long time.
neutral
A period of time that feels lengthy or extended
他很长时间没有联系我了。
He hasn’t contacted me for a long time.
这部电影很长时间都没有上映。
This movie hasn’t been released for a long time.
Often used to describe the duration of an action or state. Can be shortened to '很久' in informal speech.
Pro Tip
Avoid overusing
While '很长时间' is grammatically correct, native speakers often shorten it to '很久' (hěn jiǔ) in casual conversation for brevity.
Gold Rule
Duration emphasis
Use '很长时间' when the duration itself is the focus, not the action. For example, '他很长时间没来了' (He hasn’t come for a long time) emphasizes the length of absence rather than the act of coming.
Word Origin
Composed of '很' (very) + '长' (long) + '时间' (time). The phrase emerged as a natural extension of the individual words to express extended duration.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese. The phrase emphasizes the length of the period rather than the action itself. In some contexts, it can imply impatience or frustration.
Word Breakdown
很
very
adverb长
long
adjective时间
time
noun汉英词典