Translation and Meaning of: 長い - nagai

The Japanese word 長い (ながい, nagai) is an essential term for anyone learning the language. Its main meaning is "long" or "lengthy," but its usage goes beyond simple physical description. In this article, we will explore everything from the origin and writing of the kanji to practical memorization tips and examples of everyday use. If you want to understand how the Japanese perceive this word and how to apply it correctly, keep reading.

In addition to being a common word in daily life, 長い has interesting nuances that reflect aspects of Japanese culture. Here at Suki Nihongo, our goal is to provide accurate and useful information for students and enthusiasts. Let's uncover not only the literal meaning but also how this word appears in expressions and cultural contexts.

Meaning and usage of 長い

長い is an adjective that describes something with considerable length, whether in time or space. It can be used to talk about physical objects, such as a long corridor (長い廊下), or about time periods, like a prolonged winter (長い冬). The versatility of this word makes it common in everyday conversations and even in formal texts.

It is worth noting that in Japanese, the perception of "long" can vary depending on the context. For example, saying that a movie is 長い is not always negative—it can simply indicate that the work has a detailed narrative. This semantic flexibility shows how the Japanese language values contextualization.

The kanji 長 and its origin

The kanji 長 is composed of the radical 長 (which represents long hair) and the component 镸, associated with the idea of extension. Its origin dates back to ancient China, where it was used to describe leaders or elders—people who, symbolically, had "longevity." Over time, the character gained the meaning of "long" in Japan, while also retaining the meaning of "chief" in words like 社長 (しゃちょう, company president).

Studying the etymology of 長 helps to understand why it appears in terms like 長寿 (ちょうじゅ, longevity) and 長所 (ちょうしょ, strong point). This historical connection between "long" and "superior" reveals how Japanese culture associates length with positive qualities, such as experience and resilience.

Tips for memorizing and using 長い

An effective way to memorize 長い is to associate it with objects or situations from everyday life. For example, imagine a very long bridge (長い橋) or an endless meeting (長い会議). Creating these mental images makes memorization easier, especially for those studying Japanese as a second language.

Another valuable tip is to pay attention to antonyms. While 長い means "long," its opposite, 短い (みじかい, mijikai), means "short." Learning contrasting word pairs is a proven strategy for rapidly expanding vocabulary. This technique is even more useful when applied in practical sentences, such as comparing long and short days (長い日と短い日).

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 長い (nagai) - far away

長い

Romaji: nagai
Kana: ながい
Type: adjective
L: jlpt-n2, jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: far away

Meaning in English: long

Definition: We apologize, but we can only help you with information about isolated words or short phrases. Please note that if you need detailed definitions for each word, ask again.

Example Sentences - (長い) nagai

See below some example sentences:

長い間お待たせしました。

Nagai aida omatase shimashita

I've been waiting a long time.

• 長い間 - It means "for a long time".
• お待たせしました - It is a Japanese expression that means "sorry for making you wait."

髪が長い女性は美しいです。

Kami ga nagai josei wa utsukushii desu

Women with long hair are beautiful.

Women with long hair are beautiful.

• 髪が長い - long hair
• 女性 - woman
• 美しい - beautiful
• です - Is (verb to be in the present tense)

私は長い散歩の後に草臥れました。

Watashi wa nagai sanpo no ato ni kusagarerimashita

I was exhausted after a long walk.

I was lying down after a long walk.

• 私 - personal pronoun "I"
• は - Topic particle
• 長い - "long" adjective
• 散歩 - noun "walk"
• の - Possession particle
• 後に - expression "after"
• 草臥れました - verb "to be exhausted"

この道は長いです。

Kono michi wa nagai desu

This road is long.

This road is long.

• この道 - kono michi (this path)
• は - wa (topic particle)
• 長い - long
• です - is (verb to be in the present)

半径が長い円形のテーブルを探しています。

Hansei ga nagai enkei no teburu wo sagashiteimasu

I'm looking for a circular table with a long radius.

I'm looking for a circular table with a long radius.

• 半径 (hankei) - ray
• が (ga) - subject particle
• 長い (nagai) - far away
• 円形 (enkei) - circular
• の (no) - Possession particle
• テーブル (teeburu) - table
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 探しています (sagashiteimasu) - searching

日本とブラジルの国交は長い歴史があります。

Nihon to Burajiru no kokkou wa nagai rekishi ga arimasu

Diplomatic relations between Japan and Brazil have a long history.

• 日本 - Japan
• と - I'm sorry, but I need a text or string to translate from Portuguese to English. Please provide the content you'd like me to work on.
• ブラジル - Brazil
• の - of
• 国交 - diplomatic relations
• は - are
• 長い - longas
• 歴史 - history
• が - have
• あります - existed

私たちは長い列を連ねて待っていました。

Watashitachi wa nagai retsu o tsunagete matte imashita

We were waiting in a long line.

We were waiting for a long queue.

• 私たちは - 「私たち」
• 長い列 - "A long line" in Japanese
• を - Direct Object Particle in Japanese
• 連ねて - "In line" in Japanese
• 待っていました - "We were waiting" in Japanese.

裾が長い着物を着ています。

Susono ga nagai kimono wo kiteimasu

I'm wearing a kimono with a long hem.

I wear a long kimono with a hem.

• 裾 - It means "sheath" or "edge" in Japanese.
• が - subject particle in Japanese.
• 長い - adjective meaning "long" in Japanese.
• 着物 - The word that means "kimono" in Japanese.
• を - Object particle in Japanese.
• 着ています - verb that means "to wear" in Japanese, conjugated in the present continuous.