Meaning
许久 is a somewhat literary or formal time expression meaning 'for a long time' or 'for quite a while'. It emphasizes a considerable duration, often with a sense that the time felt long or significant. While not overly formal, it's more commonly found in written Chinese or thoughtful speech than in casual everyday conversation.
Usage
Native speakers use 许久 to emphasize that a notable amount of time has passed, often when describing waiting, not seeing someone, or not doing something. It typically appears before verbs or at the beginning of clauses. For casual conversation, alternatives like 好久 or 很久 are more common, while 许久 adds a slightly more refined or literary tone.
Examples
- 01他沉默许久，才缓缓开口说话。, .He was silent for a long time before slowly beginning to speak.
- 02我们许久没有联系了，不知道她现在怎么样。, .We haven't been in contact for quite a while; I don't know how she is now.
Characters
Common collocations
- 许久不见haven't seen for a long time
- 等了许久waited for a long time
- 过了许久after a long time passed
- 沉默许久silent for a long time
Antonyms
Origin
The character 许 here functions as an intensifier meaning 'much' or 'many', combined with 久 meaning 'long time'. Together they create an emphatic expression for extended duration.