天长日久
天长日久 (tiān cháng rì jiǔ) literally means “time is long and enduring” and expresses “prolonged duration”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: tian chang ri jiu, tian chang ri jiu,天长日久 meaning, 天长日久 in english
Prolonged duration
Pronunciation: tiān cháng rì jiǔ Literal meaning: Time is long and enduring
Origin & Usage
Heaven (天) is long (长) and the days (日) many (久). It is worth keeping apart from its near-twin 天长地久, which is about eternal love and belongs to weddings; this one is unromantic and simply means over a long enough period. The Dream of the Red Chamber uses it that way. Its characteristic use is faintly ominous, introducing the consequence that accumulates unnoticed: do this for long enough, and the phrase supplies what follows.
Examples
English: "Their friendship has lasted through thick and thin over the years."
Chinese: 他们的友谊天长日久，历久弥新。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
天长地久
tiān cháng dì jiǔ
Everlasting; eternal
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旷日持久
kuàng rì chí jiǔ
Wasteful delay
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与日俱增
yǔ rì jù zēng
Steadily increasing as time passes
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风和日丽
fēng hé rì lì
Perfect weather; favorable conditions
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日新月异
rì xīn yuè yì
Changing rapidly; improving daily
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日理万机
rì lǐ wàn jī
Diligent governance
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饱食终日
bǎo shí zhōng rì
Idle and unproductive
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长年累月
cháng nián lěi yuè
Over a long period of time
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 天长日久 mean in English?
天长日久 (tiān cháng rì jiǔ) literally translates to “Time is long and enduring” and is used to express “Prolonged duration”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 天长日久 used?
Situation: Their friendship has lasted through thick and thin over the years.
What is the pinyin for 天长日久?
The pinyin pronunciation for 天长日久 is “tiān cháng rì jiǔ”.