久jiǔ

久

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Simplified · Today

简体

Simplified Chinese

The character久 (jiǔ, "long time; enduring") remained unchanged from ancient forms to today's simplified script — its pictographic origins depicting a person leaning on a long walking stick still echoes in its meaning of duration and permanence. As a component it appears in 灸 (moxibustion), 疚 (remorse), and 玖 (the number nine in formal writing).

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Shuowen

Long time. The oracle bone form of 久 depicts a person (亻) with a horizontal line above, suggesting a roof or a prolonged stay under a shelter, which conveys the idea of a long duration. The original meaning is "long time" or "to stay for a long period", and the shape is used because it visually represents a person remaining in one place for an extended time. The modern character retains the person and the horizontal line, signifying a prolonged duration, and the meaning "long time" is preserved in compounds like "久远" (faraway) and "持久" (lasting).

Pinyin

jiǔ· HSK 1

久jiǔ

Character evolution

Shuowen

Pinyin