Chinese word

多久

Pronunciation

Pinyinduō jiǔ

Meaning

  • adverbhow long

Example

你要等多久？nǐ yào děng duō jiǔ

How long do you have to wait?

Illustration for 多久 (how long)

More examples

这件事要花多久时间？zhè jiàn shì yào huā duō jiǔ shí jiān

How long does this take?

Core concept

A measuring stick for the time an action or state lasts.

Common phrases

  • 要等多久yào děng duō jiǔ

    how long you have to wait

  • 花多久时间huā duō jiǔ shí jiān

    how long it takes

  • 住多久zhù duō jiǔ

    how long to stay

Similar words

多长时间duō cháng shí jiān: Asks how much time an action or event requires, with a time unit usually given in reply.
多长duō cháng: Uses a short, casual question to ask how long something lasts or takes.
多久了duō jiǔ le: Asks how long an action or state has continued until the present.

Definition in Chinese

用于询问时间的长短的副词，表示某一动作或状态已经持续了多长时间或将持续多长时间。yòng yú xún wèn shí jiān de cháng duǎn de fù cí biǎo shì mǒu yí dòng zuò huò zhuàng tài yǐ jīng chí xù le duō cháng shí jiān huò jiāng chí xù duō cháng shí jiān

Word origin

多 (duō, "much") supplies the idea of amount, while 久 (jiǔ, "a long time") supplies the time span being measured.

Usage tips

  • Answers usually give a time unit such as minutes, hours, days, or years, rather than a point on the clock.

Word lists with this word