Meanings of 長
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About 長
Podcast: 長
Podcast: 長
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AI Study Notes for 長
长 (zhǎng) vs 久 (jiǔ) — use 长 for physical length or duration, while 久 specifically refers to a long time in terms of duration.
Be mindful of the tone, as the third tone (zhǎng) can be confused with the second tone (zhang) in rapid speech. In informal contexts, it's often used to describe something that is physically long, while in formal contexts, it can denote excellence or superiority. Common collocations include 長時間 (long time) and 長官 (officer, superior).
Although this character is not explicitly listed in HSK levels, it connects well with HSK Level 3 vocabulary about time and distance. Focus on using it in sentences discussing time duration or comparing lengths to enhance understanding.
Learners often confuse 長 (zhǎng) with 短 (duǎn), which means 'short.' For example, saying '這個房間很短' (This room is very short) instead of '這個房間很長' (This room is very long) is a common error.
Pronunciation of 長
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Etymology of 長
Pictograph of a person with long hair. The simplified character 长 was adapted from the cursive form of the traditional character 長.
An old man with long hair and a cane
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 長
Pictograph of a person with long hair. The simplified character 长 was adapted from the cursive form of the traditional character 長.
- 1The giveawayAn old man with long hair and a cane
- 2On the record aspictographic — someone drew the thing itself.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 長? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 長?
How to say long, lasting; to excel in in Chinese
“long, lasting; to excel in” in Chinese is長
The character 長 (zhǎng) primarily means 'long' or 'lasting.' It can also mean 'to excel in' or 'to grow,' often used in contexts relating to time or physical length. This character is versatile and can be found in various compound words that express duration or superiority.
When to use 長
Be mindful of the tone, as the third tone (zhǎng) can be confused with the second tone (zhang) in rapid speech. In informal contexts, it's often used to describe something that is physically long, while in formal contexts, it can denote excellence or superiority. Common collocations include 長時間 (long time) and 長官 (officer, superior).
長 or something close to it
长 (zhǎng) vs 久 (jiǔ) — use 长 for physical length or duration, while 久 specifically refers to a long time in terms of duration.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 長 (zhǎng) with 短 (duǎn), which means 'short.' For example, saying '這個房間很短' (This room is very short) instead of '這個房間很長' (This room is very long) is a common error.
Write 長
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Practice writing 長 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 長
Compound Meaning
What does 长 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 長
You can say '這條河很長' (This river is very long) to describe physical length.
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