遠い

• Reading: とおい
• Romaji: tooi
• Kanji breakdown: 遠 (tō/en) — far, distant
• Pronunciation: /to.o.i/

Meaning

Far; distant; a long way off. Describes things that are far away in space or time.

An i-adjective meaning far or distant. Used for physical distance (家が遠い = house is far), temporal distance (遠い昔 = long ago), and figurative distance (遠い親戚 = distant relative). The opposite is 近い. The related noun 遠く (tōku) means 'far away.' Conjugates regularly: 遠くない, 遠かった.

Examples

1. 会社は家から遠いです。 The office is far from my house.
2. 遠い国に行ってみたいです。 I'd like to visit a faraway country.
3. スーパーが遠くて不便です。 The supermarket is far away, so it's inconvenient.

Usage Guide

Context: directions, location, travel

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 遠 combines the movement radical (辶) with 袁 (long robe), suggesting a long journey requiring heavy clothing — something far away.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal