Meaning
The kanji 久 means a long passage of time — something that endures or lasts well beyond the ordinary. You meet it most naturally in 久しぶり (hisashiburi), the everyday phrase for "long time no see." It also turns up in words for durability, permanence, and eternity.
Etymologically, 久 is thought to come from a pictograph of a person bending or crouching — someone who has waited so long their back has begun to bow. That image of weary patience fits the meaning well. Over centuries of standardization, the human silhouette was reduced to the clean three-stroke form we use today.
With just 3 strokes, 久 is a Grade 5 elementary school kanji — its simple form belies the depth of what it conveys. The radical is 丿, one of the most basic strokes in the system. Vocabulary built on 久 spans a wide range: casual reunion phrases, product labels about durability, Buddhist texts on eternity.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The on'yomi readings of 久 are キュウ (kyuu) and ク (ku). Both appear predominantly in compound words (熟語, jukugo) and carry a more formal or literary tone than the native kun'yomi reading.
キュウ (kyuu) is the more common of the two and appears in core vocabulary:
- 永久 (eikyuu) — eternity, permanence, forever
- 耐久 (taikyuu) — durability, endurance, resistance to wear
- 持久 (jikyuu) — persistence, staying power, sustained effort
- 悠久 (yuukyuu) — eternity, perpetuity (literary, poetic)
ク (ku) is less common and appears mostly in Buddhist and literary vocabulary:
- 久遠 (kuon) — eternity, the infinite past and future; commonly used in Buddhist texts
- 久遠実成 (kuon jitsujou) — a Buddhist concept referring to the eternal enlightenment of the Buddha
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The primary kun'yomi is ひさ・しい (hisashii), used as a standalone adjective, with the adverbial form ひさ・しく (hisashiku). These native readings dominate in everyday speech and carry a warmer, more personal tone than the on'yomi compounds.
- 久しい (hisashii) — long, a long time has passed (adjective)
- 久しぶり (hisashiburi) — after a long time, long time no see
- 久しく (hisashiku) — for a long time (adverb form)
- 久々 (hisabisa) — after a long absence, for the first time in ages
Common Words & Compounds
久 builds compounds across a wide register, from casual daily speech to literary and Buddhist writing.
Everyday Expressions (時間・日常):
- 久しぶり (hisashiburi) — long time no see; it's been a while
- 久々 (hisabisa) — after a long time, once in a long while
- 久しい (hisashii) — long (adjective describing elapsed time)
Durability & Persistence (耐久・持続):
- 耐久 (taikyuu) — durability, endurance; e.g., 耐久性 (taikyuusei) means durability as a quality
- 持久 (jikyuu) — sustained effort, endurance; e.g., 持久走 (jikyuusou) is a long-distance run
- 持久力 (jikyuuryoku) — stamina, staying power
Permanence & Eternity (永遠・永久):
- 永久 (eikyuu) — eternity, permanence; 永久に (eikyuu ni) means "forever"
- 永久歯 (eikyuushi) — permanent teeth (as opposed to baby teeth)
- 悠久 (yuukyuu) — everlasting, the vast sweep of time (literary)
- 久遠 (kuon) — eternity (especially in Buddhist philosophy)
Extended Duration (長期間):
- 長久 (choukyuu) — long continuance, lasting long
- 久しく (hisashiku) — for a long time, used in formal writing
Example Sentences
久しぶりに友達に会った。
Hisashiburi ni tomodachi ni atta.
I met up with a friend I hadn't seen in ages.
「お久しぶりです！元気でしたか？」
"Ohisashiburi desu! Genki deshita ka?"
"Long time no see! Have you been well?"
この機械は耐久性が高くて丈夫だ。
Kono kikai wa taikyuusei ga takakute joubu da.
This machine is highly durable and built to last.
永久に君のことを忘れない。
Eikyuu ni kimi no koto wo wasurenai.
I will never forget you.
子供の頃、久しく会っていなかった祖父を訪ねた。
Kodomo no koro, hisashiku atte inakatta sofu wo tazuneta.
When I was a child, I visited my grandfather, whom I hadn't seen for a long time.
久々に故郷に帰り、懐かしい気持ちになった。
Hisabisa ni furusato ni kaeri, natsukashii kimochi ni natta.
Returning to my hometown after so long, I was flooded with nostalgia.
持久走は体力と精神力が必要だ。
Jikyuusou wa tairyoku to seishinryoku ga hitsuyou da.
Long-distance running demands both physical and mental endurance.
永久歯が生えてきたら、丁寧にケアすることが大切だ。
Eikyuushi ga haete kitara, teinei ni kea suru koto ga taisetsu da.
Once your permanent teeth come in, take good care of them.
二人の友情は悠久の時を超えて続くだろう。
Futari no yuujou wa yuukyuu no toki wo koete tsuzuku darou.
Their friendship will probably endure across the ages.
Memory Tip
Think of 久 as the silhouette of an old person hunching forward — someone who has waited so long their spine has begun to curve. Three strokes capture this stooped figure with remarkable economy. The first sweeps diagonally like the slope of aged shoulders; the second and third form the bent back and legs of someone who has truly endured the test of time.
Whenever you see 久, picture an elderly person greeting a relative they haven't seen in years — arms open, slightly bent, whispering ひさしぶり, "it's been so long." This image ties the visual shape to its meaning: time, patience, and the bonds that outlast distance.
For Hán-Việt readers, CỬU is the bridge — trường cửu (everlasting) carries the same weight across both languages.