Translation and Meaning of: 久しい - hisashii

The word 「久しい」 (hisashii) is a Japanese adjective that means "a long time" or "a long time ago." This word is often used to describe something that has not happened or has not been seen for a long time. The kanji reading of the word is composed of the ideogram 「久」, which conveys the sense of "long" or "eternally." This kanji is quite old and its origin dates back to Chinese characters, where it also shares similar meanings. The radical present in this kanji is 「丿」, which, by itself, does not carry a particular meaning, but contributes to the form of the kanji.

In everyday language, 「久しい」 is often used to express feelings of nostalgia or to emphasize the time that has passed since the last occurrence of something. It can be found in expressions like 「久しぶり」 (hisashiburi), which means "it's been a long time since we last met" or "has it been so long!". The verbalized form of the expression allows for many variations to be used in social contexts for greeting or expressing surprise upon meeting someone after a long interval.

The etymology of the word also reflects a cultural philosophy present in Japan, where time and its passage are often viewed in a reflective and nostalgic manner. The use of this term is a way to connect to the past while acknowledging the present. This perception of time as something continuous yet perceptibly divided into experiences is profound and deeply rooted in Japanese culture.

Vocabulary

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Synonyms and similar words

• 長い (Nagai) - far away
• 古い (Furui) - Old, but it can also refer to something that is from a considerably distant time.
• 久しぶりの (Hisashiburi no) - After a long time, especially in contexts of reunion.
• 久遠の (Kuon no) - Eternal, which refers to extended periods of time, beyond what we normally consider as long.
• 遠い (Tooi) - Distant, but can be used both in physical distance and in times past.

久しい

Romaji: hisashii
Kana: ひさしい
Type: adjective
L: jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: long; very continuous; ancient (history)

Meaning in English: long;long-continued;old (story)

Definition: Word that expresses something that has been lasting for a long time or that time has passed.

Example Sentences - (久しい) hisashii

See below some example sentences:

久しい間ずっと待っていた。

Hisashii aida zutto matteita

I waited a long time.

I've been waiting a long time.

• 久しい - adjective that means "long", "prolonged"
• 間 - noun that means "space", "interval"
• ずっと - adverb that means "always", "continuously"
• 待っていた - verb meaning "to wait", conjugated in the past and in the progressive form