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How to Say ‘Have you been waiting long?’ in Traditional Chinese

等很久了嗎?

děng hěn jiǔ le ma

[děng hen jiǔ le ma]

💬 Usage Tip: The 了 here marks a wait that started earlier and is still going on. Asking 嗎 at the end turns any statement into a yes/no question, so 等很久了 "you've waited a long time" becomes a question just by adding it.

Phrase Breakdown

等

děng

[děng]

to wait

To stay in one place until a certain time or event.

Example

我在等車。

I am waiting for the bus.

很

hěn

[hen]

very

An adverb meaning very; it strengthens an adjective or feeling.

Example

今天認識你,我很開心,也很喜歡這個「很」有活力的活動。

Meeting you today, I’m very happy, and I also like this very lively event.

久

jiǔ

[jiǔ]

long (time)

Describes a long duration of time.

Example

我等了很久。

I waited a long time.

了

le

[le]

change of state particle

Sentence-final particle showing a situation or new state.

Example

我吃飽了。

I'm full now.

嗎

ma

[ma]

question particle

A sentence-final particle used to turn a statement into a yes-no question.

Example

你喜歡這個活動嗎?

Do you like this event?

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