Translation guide
Expressing that something takes or lasts for a long duration. Japanese uses various time-related nouns, adverbs, and patterns depending on whether you mean 'for a long time', 'a long time ago', or 'it's been a long time'.
Describing an action or state that continues for a long period.
The most common and neutral way to say 'for a long time'. Literally 'long interval'.
Sorry to have kept you waiting for a long time.
He was in the hospital for a long time.
Emphasizes the length of time as a quantity. Often used with verbs like かかる (take time).
That work took a long time.
A compound noun meaning 'long time', often used in formal or written contexts, or as an adverb with に.
I got tired from the long meeting.
Adverb meaning 'all along', 'the whole time', or 'for a long time continuously'. Implies an unbroken duration.
I was waiting for a long time.
Referring to something that happened far in the past.
Literally 'far before'. A natural way to say 'a long time ago'.
I saw that movie a long time ago.
Means 'old times' or 'long ago'. Can be used as a noun or adverb (昔に).
Means 'quite a while ago', emphasizing that a considerable amount of time has passed.
I moved a long time ago.
Greeting someone you haven't seen for a while.
Polite phrase meaning 'It's been a long time'. Used when meeting someone after a while.
It's been a long time. How have you been?
Casual version of the above. Used among friends.
Very formal expression for 'It's been a long time', often used in letters or business contexts.
It's been a long time. (formal)
Expressing that an action requires a long duration.
English 'a long time' is often not directly translated as a single noun. Instead, Japanese uses time expressions like 長い間, 長時間, or adverbs like ずっと. Using 長い時間 is possible but may sound unnatural in some contexts.
A long time ago, this place was the sea.
久しぶり！元気だった？
Long time no see! How have you been?