久しい

• Reading: ひさしい
• Romaji: hisashii
• Kanji breakdown: 久 (kyū/ku/hisa) — long time, lasting, enduring
• Pronunciation: /hi.sa.ɕi.i/

Meaning

Long (in the sense of time having passed); it has been a long time. Describes a lengthy elapsed duration.

An i-adjective that specifically describes a long passage of time, not physical length. Most commonly encountered in the set phrase 久しぶり (hisashiburi, long time no see). On its own, 久しい appears in more literary or formal expressions: 久しい間 (for a long time), 久しい昔 (long, long ago). The て-form 久しくて is rare; instead, the adverb 久しく (hisashiku, for a long while) is used: 久しく会っていない (I haven't seen them in ages).

Examples

1. 友人と会うのは久しいことだ。 It's been a long time since I've seen my friend.
2. 久しく連絡を取っていなかった。 I hadn't been in touch for a long while.
3. あの事件からもう久しい年月が経った。 Many long years have passed since that incident.

Usage Guide

Context: greetings, reminiscence, literature

Tone: reflective

Origin & History

From Old Japanese hisashi, meaning 'long-lasting' or 'enduring.' The kanji 久 depicts a person bending under the weight of time, representing duration and perseverance. Related to 久しぶり, one of the most common greetings in Japanese.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal