quite a long while; ages
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnumeral-classifier compound
quite a long while; ages; a good long time
informalEmphasizes the subjective feeling that the time felt long, often due to waiting or anticipation. Mostly used in spoken language.
Zěn怎
me么
cái才
lái来
，
wǒ我
men们
děng等
nǐ你
lǎo老
bàn半
tiān天
le了
。
Why are you only coming now? We've been waiting for you for ages.
Zhè这
ge个
wèn问
tí题
wǒ我
xiǎng想
le了
lǎo老
bàn半
tiān天
yě也
méi没
xiǎng想
míng明
bai白
。
I've been thinking about this problem for ages and still can't figure it out.
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Gōng公
jiāo交
chē车
lǎo老
bàn半
tiān天
bù不
lái来
yī一
liàng辆
。
The bus hasn't come for ages.
Tā他
zài在
mén门
kǒu口
zhàn站
le了
lǎo老
bàn半
tiān天
，
hǎo好
xiàng像
zài在
děng等
shén什
me么
rén人
。
He stood at the door for a good long while, as if waiting for someone.