Chinese Character: 久
1. Character Basics
Radical: 久/jiǔ (it's its own radical)
Stroke Count: 3
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: jiǔ (third tone)
3. Meaning
long time, long duration, for a long time, permanent
4. Common Words
- 很久 (hěn jiǔ) - very long time
- 长久 (cháng jiǔ) - long-term, lasting
- 久别 (jiǔ bié) - long separation
- 久等 (jiǔ děng) - wait for a long time
- 永久 (yǒng jiǔ) - forever, permanent
- 久而久之 (jiǔ ér jiǔ zhī) - over time, as time goes by
5. Grammar & Usage
As an adjective: 久 (long-lasting), e.g., 友谊地久天长 (Friendship lasts forever)
In adverbial phrases: 很久 (very long time), e.g., 我等了很久 (I waited for a long time)
In idioms: 久而久之 (over time), e.g., 久而久之，他习惯了这里的生活 (Over time, he got used to life here)
In negative constructions: 不久 (not long, soon), e.g., 他不久就会回来 (He will come back soon)
6. Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, "久" is associated with longevity and permanence
It's often used in wedding wishes to express hope for a long-lasting marriage
In traditional Chinese medicine, there's a concept of "久视伤血" (long gazing damages blood)
The character is often seen in blessings for elders, hoping they live a long life
The Chinese idiom "天长地久" (tiān cháng dì jiǔ) means "as long as the sky and earth endure"
7. Example Sentence
Chinese: 我们很久没见面了。
Pinyin: Wǒmen hěn jiǔ méi jiànmiàn le.
Translation: We haven't seen each other for a long time.
8. Memory Tips
The character 久 has 3 strokes
It looks like a person standing with arms raised, symbolizing longevity
The top part resembles a roof, which provides shelter and protection over time
The character is related to 九 (nine) in both pronunciation and meaning (long-lasting)
Remember that 久 means "long time" by associating it with the concept of "nine lives" lasting a long time