长年累月
长年累月 (cháng nián lěi yuè) literally means “long years accumulated months” and expresses “over a long period of time”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: chang nian lei yue, chang nian lei yue,长年累月 meaning, 长年累月 in english
Over a long period of time
Pronunciation: cháng nián lěi yuè
Literal meaning: Long years accumulated months
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes long (长) years (年) with accumulated (累) months (月), emphasizing extended duration. The repetition of time units reinforces the sense of prolonged periods. The phrase appeared in historical texts describing gradual processes that unfold over extended timeframes. It emphasizes that some developments require or result from sustained periods rather than sudden events. Modern usage describes anything that develops, accumulates, or deteriorates over extended periods.
Examples
English: "The damage was caused by years of neglect."
Chinese: 这些损坏是长年累月疏忽造成的。
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Plain sailing; everything going smoothly
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Cross difficult terrain; overcome major obstacles
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Travel through hardship; overcome obstacles
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Travel a great distance
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Work hard to improve governance
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Prosperous people and powerful nation
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guó tài mín ān
National peace and public security
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Golden age of peace and prosperity
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 长年累月 mean in English?
长年累月 (cháng nián lěi yuè) literally translates to “Long years accumulated months” and is used to express “Over a long period of time”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 长年累月 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving over a long period of time.
What is the pinyin for 长年累月?
The pinyin pronunciation for 长年累月 is “cháng nián lěi yuè”.