Meaning
长时间 means 'a long time' or 'for a long time' and is used to describe an extended duration. It combines 长 (long) with 时间 (time) to emphasize that something lasts or takes a considerable amount of time. It can function as a time noun or as an adverbial phrase modifying verbs.
Usage
长时间 is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese to emphasize duration. It typically appears before verbs to describe actions that continue for an extended period, or after verbs like 经过/花费 to indicate the passage of time. It's slightly more formal than just saying 很久 (a long time) and often implies a notable or problematic length of time.
Examples
- 01长时间坐在电脑前对身体不好。.Sitting in front of a computer for a long time is bad for your health.
- 02经过长时间的努力，他终于成功了。, .After a long time of hard work, he finally succeeded.
Characters
Common collocations
- 长时间工作to work for a long time
- 经过长时间after a long time
- 长时间的等待a long wait
- 保持长时间to maintain for a long time
Antonyms
Origin
This is a straightforward compound combining 长 (long, lengthy) with 时间 (time), a modern Chinese word borrowed from Japanese 時間 during the late 19th/early 20th century language modernization period.