“Long” in Japanese is 長い (ながい), pronounced nagai.
Pronunciation
The word has 3 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
Long, for length and time.
Example sentences
- 髪が長いです。かみがながいです。She has long hair.
- 長い休みがほしいです。ながいやすみがほしいです。I want a long holiday.
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 長い. The rules are explained in い- vs. な-adjectives.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Plain | 長い ながい | long |
| Polite present | 長いです ながいです | is long |
| Negative | 長くないです ながくないです | isn’t long |
| Past | 長かったです ながかったです | was long |
| Past negative | 長くなかったです ながくなかったです | wasn’t long |
| て-form | 長くて ながくて | long and… |
| Adverb (く) | 長く ながく | adverb form (+ verb) |
Quick practice
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Related words: Adjectives
FAQ
How do you say long in Japanese?
Long in Japanese is 長い (ながい), pronounced “nagai”.
How do you write long in Japanese?
It's written 長い with kanji, or ながい in hiragana. Both are read nagai.
Is 長い on the JLPT?
Yes. 長い (nagai) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.