长足

• Pinyin: cháng zú
• Hanzi breakdown: 长 = simplified 長; 足 = pictograph of a foot and leg

Meaning

Significant; substantial; great (of progress or development). Describes remarkable advancement or improvement.

Almost exclusively used as an adjectival modifier in the fixed phrase 取得长足进步/进展/发展/改善 (to make significant progress/advances/development/improvement). The metaphor is of a 'long stride' — a meaningful leap forward. NOT used independently to describe a person or thing, and not interchangeable with 很多 or 巨大 outside of progress-related contexts. Register: formal, written.

Examples

1. 近十年来，我国在人工智能领域取得了长足进步，部分技术已达到国际领先水平。 Over the past decade, China has made significant strides in the field of artificial intelligence, with some technologies reaching internationally leading levels.
2. 经过多年努力，该地区的医疗卫生条件有了长足改善，婴儿死亡率大幅下降。 After years of effort, the medical and health conditions in this region have improved substantially, and the infant mortality rate has dropped markedly.
3. 尽管整体水平仍有提升空间，这位年轻棋手在过去一年中已取得了相当长足的进步。 Although there is still room for overall improvement, this young chess player has made quite remarkable progress over the past year.

Usage Guide

Context: academic, reports, policy, science, business

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 改革开放以来，中国经济取得了举世瞩目的长足发展。(Since the reform and opening-up, China's economy has achieved remarkable and internationally recognised long-stride development.)
• 在教育政策持续投入的带动下，欠发达地区的义务教育普及率有了长足提升。(Driven by sustained investment in education policy, the enrolment rate for compulsory education in underdeveloped areas has made significant gains.)

Don't Say

• 他的身高有长足增长。(长足 collocates with abstract progress-related nouns like 进步, 发展, 改善 — for physical growth use 显著增长 or 明显增高)

Origin & History

长 (long) + 足 (foot, step). Metaphor: taking a long stride forward — substantial progress.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal