Japanese word

長引く

Pronunciation

Romajinagabiku

Meaning

  • verbdrag on

Example

会議が長引きます。kai gi ga naga bi ki ma su

The meeting drags on.

Illustration for 長引く (drag on)

More examples

質問が多く、授業が長引きました。shitsu mon ga ō ku ju gyō ga naga bi ki ma shi ta

The class ran long because there were many questions.

Core concept

Describes something continuing beyond its expected or planned endpoint, often with a sense of unwanted delay.

Common phrases

  • 会議が長引くkai gi ga naga bi ku

    the meeting drags on

  • 議論が長引くgi ron ga naga bi ku

    the discussion drags on

  • 交渉が長引くkō shō ga naga bi ku

    the negotiations drag on

Similar words

続くtsuzuku: To continue for some time without indicating whether the duration is excessive.
延びるnobiru: To become longer in duration or later in timing than originally expected.
ずれ込むzurekomu: To run beyond the planned time because an earlier part has taken longer.

Definition in Japanese

予定していた時点を過ぎても物事が終わらず、時間がさらにかかる。yo tei shi te i ta ji ten o su gi te mo mono goto ga o wa ra zu ji kan ga sa ra ni ka ka ru

Word origin

The native Japanese verb 長引く (nagabiku) combines 長 (naga, "long") and 引く (hiku, "to pull"), expressing something that is pulled out over a long stretch of time.

Usage tips

  • In natural conversation, 長引く (nagabiku) often suggests that an event has continued too long, making it suitable for meetings, negotiations, and symptoms.

Other meanings

  • lingerverb

Opposites

  • 短縮するtanshukusurushortenverb

Related words

  • 長引かせるnagabikaseruprolongverb

Word lists with this word