Translation guide
How to express 'staying for a long time' in Japanese, covering duration, lingering, and extended visits.
Expressing that someone remains in a place for an extended period of time.
A natural, general way to say 'stay long' using the adverb 長く (for a long time) with the verb いる (to be/stay).
彼はいつも長くいる。
He always stays long.
今日はあまり長くいられない。
I can't stay long today.
Describing when someone stays longer than expected or delays departure.
Means to dawdle or linger, often with a nuance of reluctance to leave or being slow to act.
ぐずぐずしないで早く行こう。
Don't linger; let's go quickly.
Referring to staying somewhere for a night or longer, such as at a friend's house or a hotel.
The standard verb for 'to stay overnight'. Can be used for hotels, friends' houses, etc.
The English phrase 'stay long' does not have a single direct equivalent in Japanese. Using 長く (long) with a verb like いる or 滞在する is the most natural approach. Avoid trying to translate 'stay' and 'long' separately.
長くいる is neutral and simply means 'to be/stay for a long time'. 長居する carries a nuance of overstaying or lingering too long, often used in apologies or warnings.
長くいてもいいですか？
Is it okay if I stay long?
長居してごめんなさい。
Sorry for staying too long.
Specifically means 'to stay too long' or 'to overstay one's welcome'. Often used when apologizing for staying long or when someone lingers.
長居してすみません。
Sorry for staying so long.
あまり長居しないほうがいいよ。
You shouldn't stay too long.
A more formal way to say 'stay long', often used for stays at hotels, in cities, or for extended visits.
彼は日本に長く滞在した。
He stayed in Japan for a long time.
A literary or old-fashioned term for a long stay, often implying an extended sojourn.
彼は田舎に長逗留した。
He stayed long in the countryside.
To stay on and refuse to leave, often with a negative connotation of overstaying.
彼は閉店まで居座った。
He stayed until closing time, refusing to leave.
Literally 'to be there forever', used to criticize someone who stays too long.
いつまでもいないで帰ってください。
Don't stay forever; please go home.
友達の家に泊まってもいい？
Can I stay over at your place?
ホテルに一泊する。
I'll stay one night at a hotel.
A formal term for 'to stay' (for a period of time), used for trips, business, etc.
一週間滞在する予定です。
I plan to stay for a week.