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How to Say ‘Hi, have you been waiting long?’ in Traditional Chinese

嗨，等很久了嗎？

hāi děng hěn jiǔ le ma

[hāi děng hen jiǔ le ma]

💬 Usage Tip: Put 了 after a time word and add 嗎 to ask how long something has gone on: 等很久了嗎 (děng hěn jiǔ le ma). Swap the verb for 來很久了嗎 "have you been here long?"

Phrase Breakdown

嗨，等很久

hāi děng hěn jiǔ

hi, waited a long time

嗨 (hāi) is a casual 'hi'. 等很久 (děng hěn jiǔ) means 'waited a long time'.

Example

嗨，好久不見！

Hi, long time no see!

Words in this phrase

嗨

hāi

[hāi]

Casual greeting borrowed from English

Example

嗨，好久不見！

Hi, long time no see!

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.

了嗎？

le ma

(has it happened?)

了 (le) marks a change. 嗎 (ma) makes a yes/no question. Say both softly.

Example

他回家了嗎？

Has he gone home?

Words in this phrase

了

[le]

change-of-state particle

With 快…了, shows something is about to happen.

Example

火車快來了。

The train is about to arrive.

嗎

[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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