久 meaning and stroke order
(of a period of time) long
How to write 久, stroke by stroke
3 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
Meaning of 久
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- (of a period of time) long
How 久 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 丿 (slash), shared by 19 characters on this site.
How to remember 久
久 contains the wrapping shape 勹 with an extra stroke stretching out below it, like something wrapped up and left alone for a long time. Picture a long tail trailing away to remember "a long time."
久 (jiǔ) describes a long stretch of time and usually appears in set words like 好久 (hǎojiǔ), 多久 (duōjiǔ) and 不久 (bùjiǔ). A very common greeting is 好久不见 (hǎojiǔ bú jiàn), "Long time no see."
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 久 (jiǔ, long time) with 九 (jiǔ, nine) and 酒 (jiǔ, alcohol) because all three are read jiǔ with the third tone. Also do not use 久 for physical length; a long road is 长 (cháng), not 久.
Common words with 久
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 多久 | duōjiǔ | (of time) how long?; (not) a long time | HSK 2 |
| 不久 | bùjiǔ | not long (after); before too long | HSK 2 |
| 好久 | hǎojiǔ | (coll.) a long time | HSK 2 |
| 长久 | chángjiǔ | long-time; long-term; lasting; enduring; permanent | HSK 6 |
| 永久 | yǒngjiǔ | everlasting; perpetual | HSK 7-9 |
| 持久 | chíjiǔ | lasting; enduring | HSK 7-9 |
| 前不久 | qiánbùjiǔ | not long ago; not long before | HSK 7-9 |
| 久仰 | jiǔyǎng | honorific: I've long looked forward to meeting you.; It's an honor to meet you at last. | HSK 7-9 |
| 久违 | jiǔwéi | to go a long time without seeing, hearing, visiting, experiencing etc (sb or sth) | HSK 7-9 |
| 悠久 | yōujiǔ | long (tradition, history etc) | HSK 7-9 |
| 天长地久 | tiāncháng-dìjiǔ | enduring while the world lasts (idiom); eternal | HSK 7-9 |
| 经久不息 | jīngjiǔ-bùxī | (idiom) prolonged (applause, cheering etc) | HSK 7-9 |
| 好久不见 | hǎojiǔbujiàn | long time no see | |
| 久等 | jiǔděng | to wait for a long time |
久 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 久
Learning 久 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 久
How many strokes are in 久?
久 is written with 3 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 久 mean?
久 (jiǔ) means (of a period of time) long. A common word with it is 多久 (duōjiǔ), meaning "(of time) how long?; (not) a long time".
How do you pronounce 久?
久 is pronounced jiǔ, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 久?
The radical of 久 is 丿, which carries the idea of "slash". Dictionaries list 久 under this radical.
Is 久 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 久 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
How do I ask "how long" with 久?
Use 多久 (duōjiǔ) after the verb, as in 你学中文学了多久? (Nǐ xué Zhōngwén xué le duōjiǔ?) "How long have you studied Chinese?" It asks about duration, not a point in time.
What is the difference between 不久 and 前不久?
不久 (bùjiǔ) means "soon" or "not long after" and can point to the future or the past. 前不久 (qiánbùjiǔ) only refers to the past and means "not long ago."