不久

• Pinyin: bù jiǔ
• Hanzi breakdown: 不 (bù) — not; 久 (jiǔ) — long time, lasting

Meaning

Soon; before long; not long (in time). Describes a short interval of time.

Can mean 'shortly after' when referring to past events, or 'before long' for future events.

Examples

1. 他离开后不久，就开始下雨了。 Not long after he left, it started to rain.
2. 相信不久之后你们会再见面的。 I believe before long you will see each other again.
3. 不久前，这里还是一片田野。 Not long ago, this place was still a field.

Usage Guide

Context: narration, time expressions, storytelling, prediction

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 不久以后，事情就解决了。(Before long, the matter was resolved.)
• 不久前他还在这里。(Not long ago he was still here.)

Don't Say

• Avoid confusing 不久 with 很快 — 不久 is purely temporal and suggests a short span of time, while 很快 can describe speed of action as well as time.

Origin & History

Compound of 不 (bù, not) + 久 (jiǔ, long time). Literally 'not long,' used as a temporal expression.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal