Japanese word

長年

Pronunciation

Romajinaganen

Meaning

  • adverbfor many years

Example

私は長年この町に住んでいます。watashi wa naga nen ko no machi ni su n de i ma su

I have lived in this town for many years.

Illustration for 長年 (for many years)

More examples

彼は長年この店で働いています。kare wa naga nen ko no mise de hatara i te i ma su

He has worked at this store for many years.

Core concept

It presents an extended stretch of time as a number of passing years.

Common phrases

  • 長年住むnaga nen su mu

    live for many years

  • 長年働くnaga nen hatara ku

    work for many years

Similar words

長らくnagaraku: For a long period, often describing an ongoing state or activity.
久しくhisashiku: For a long time, especially in formal or literary language.

Definition in Japanese

長い年月の間、ある状態や行為が続くさま。naga i toshi tsuki no aida a ru jō tai ya kō i ga tsuzu ku sa ma

Word origin

長年 (naganen) joins the native stem 長 (naga) from 長い (nagai, "long") with 年 (nen, "year"), whose Sino-Japanese reading appears in the compound.

Usage tips

  • Unlike a phrase that names a specific number of years, 長年 (naganen) leaves the exact count open when referring to a long-established situation.

Other meanings

  • for a long timeadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word