Translation guide
The English word "long" covers physical length, duration, and abstract extent. Japanese uses different words depending on what is long. This guide organizes the main meanings and their natural Japanese equivalents.
Describing something that has a relatively great physical length from end to end.
a long rope · long legs · a long hallway
The most common word for physical length. Used for objects, body parts, roads, etc.
Means 'on the long side' or 'longish'. Used when something is somewhat long.
このスカートは長めだ。
This skirt is on the long side.
A colloquial, slightly negative way to say something is unnecessarily long (often for objects like sleeves or speeches).
この袖、長ったらしいな。
These sleeves are annoyingly long.
Describing something that lasts for a great amount of time.
a long movie · a long wait · a long time ago
Also used for duration. Works for meetings, movies, waits, etc.
会議が長かった。
The meeting was long.
長い間お待たせしました。
Sorry to have kept you waiting for so long.
Noun meaning 'long time' or 'many hours'. Often used in formal contexts.
Literary word for 'long (time)'. Often used in set phrases like 久しぶり (long time no see).
Describing something that is lengthy in terms of content, such as a book, letter, or explanation.
a long novel · a long list · a long explanation
Works for texts, speeches, etc. Can imply tediousness if overused.
彼の説明はいつも長い。
His explanations are always long.
Noun meaning 'long sentence' or 'long text'. Used for emails, messages, etc.
Means 'verbose' or 'redundantly long'. Used in writing criticism.
Describing a great spatial distance between two points.
a long way · a long journey · a long commute
Means 'far' or 'distant'. Often more natural than 長い for distance.
駅まで遠いですか？
Is it a long way to the station?
Noun meaning 'long distance'. Used for travel, relationships, etc.
Phrase meaning 'the journey is long'. Emphasizes the path.
山頂までの道のりが長い。
The way to the summit is long.
Expressing a strong desire for something, often something absent or in the past.
long for home · long to see you · long for the past
To long for, admire, or yearn for something ideal. Often used for dreams, lifestyles, or people.
都会の生活に憧れている。
I long for city life.
To yearn intensely, often for a person or the past. Poetic.
Pattern meaning 'I'm dying to do ~'. Expresses strong longing for an action.
日本に行きたくてたまらない。
I'm longing to go to Japan.
When talking about distance between places, 遠い (far) is usually more natural than 長い. 長い距離 is possible but sounds more technical.
駅は遠いです。
The station is far (a long way).
永い (ながい) uses a different kanji and is used for very long, indefinite periods of time, often with a sense of permanence (e.g., 永い眠り eternal sleep). In modern Japanese, 長い is far more common for both physical and temporal length.
永い歴史
long history
長時間のフライトで疲れた。
I'm tired from the long flight.
久しく会っていない。
I haven't seen you for a long time.
長文のメールを送ってしまった。
I ended up sending a long email.
このレポートは冗長だ。
This report is long-winded.
長距離バスで行きます。
I'll go by long-distance bus.
故郷を恋い焦がれる。
I long for my hometown.