Readings: キュウ, ク (Onyomi), ひさ.しい (Kunyomi)
Meaning: long time, old story
The kanji 久 is thought to be a pictograph of a person lying down for a long period, or perhaps a person leaning against something, suggesting a state of endurance or continuation over time.
View JLPT N2 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 久 is written with 3 strokes. The first stroke is a short horizontal line, followed by a long sweeping downward stroke from top left to bottom right. The final stroke is a shorter downward stroke that curves slightly to the left, crossing the second stroke.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 丿 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 3 |
| JLPT Level | N2 |
| Grade | S (Supplementary Jouyou Kanji) |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- 久 (Kyū)
- 久 (Ku)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- 久しい (Hisashii)
Common Words Using 久
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 永久 | えいきゅう | eternity, permanence |
| 久遠 | くおん | eternity, perpetuity |
| 耐久性 | たいきゅうせい | durability |
| 恒久 | こうきゅう | permanence, perpetuity |
| 長久 | ちょうきゅう | longevity, long duration |
| 悠久 | ゆうきゅう | eternity, perpetuity, immutability |
| 久米 | くめ | Kume (surname/place name) |
| 久住 | くじゅう | Kujuu (surname/place name) |
| 久保 | くぼ | Kubo (surname/place name) |
| 久慈 | くじ | Kuji (surname/place name) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 久しぶり | ひさしぶり | after a long time |
| 久しい | ひさしい | long (time), ancient |
| 久々 | ひさびさ | after a long time (colloquial) |
| 久しからず | ひさしからず | not long |
| 久しく | ひさしく | for a long time (adverbial form) |
| 久々に | ひさびさに | for the first time in a long time |
| 久し振りに | ひさしぶりに | for the first time in a long time (more formal) |
| 久しい間 | ひさしいあいだ | for a long time |
| 久しいこと | ひさしいこと | a long time (noun phrase) |
| 久しく待つ | ひさしくまつ | to wait for a long time |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 久しぶりだね！
Kana: ひさしぶりだね！
Romaji: Hisashiburi da ne!
English: It’s been a long time, hasn’t it!
Japanese: 長い間、久しく会っていない。
Kana: ながいあいだ、ひさしくあっていない。
Romaji: Nagai aida, hisashiku atteinai.
English: I haven’t seen them for a long time.
Japanese: この建物は永久に続く。
Kana: このたてものはえいきゅうにつづく。
Romaji: Kono tatemono wa eikyū ni tsuzuku.
English: This building will last forever.
Japanese: 彼は久遠の夢を追い続けている。
Kana: かれはくおんのゆめをおいつづけている。
Romaji: Kare wa kuon no yume o oitsuzukete iru.
English: He continues to chase an eternal dream.
Japanese: この耐久性のある製品は長く使える。
Kana: このたいきゅうせいのあるせいひんはながくつかえる。
Romaji: Kono taikyūsei no aru seihin wa nagaku tsukaeru.
English: This durable product can be used for a long time.
Japanese: 恒久的な平和を願う。
Kana: こうきゅうてきなへいわをねがう。
Romaji: Kōkyū-teki na heiwa o negau.
English: I wish for permanent peace.
Japanese: 悠久の歴史を持つ国。
Kana: ゆうきゅうのれきしをもつくに。
Romaji: Yūkyū no rekishi o motsu kuni.
English: A country with an eternal history.
Japanese: 久々に故郷に帰った。
Kana: ひさびさにこきょうにかえった。
Romaji: Hisabisa ni kokyō ni kaetta.
English: I returned to my hometown after a long time.
Japanese: 彼女は久しく病気で寝ていた。
Kana: かのじょはひさしくびょうきでねていた。
Romaji: Kanojo wa hisashiku byōki de nete ita.
English: She was sick in bed for a long time.
Japanese: 久しい昔の話だ。
Kana: ひさしいむかしのはなしだ。
Romaji: Hisashii mukashi no hanashi da.
English: It’s a story from long, long ago.
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