📖 Meaning
A long passage of time; having endured through many years and months. It describes something that has existed or persisted for a very long period.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase appears in Ling Mengchu's 'Slapping the Table in Amazement, Second Collection' (Erke Paian Jingqi), a Ming Dynasty collection of vernacular short stories. In the tale, a garden gate, weakened by the passage of many years, is easily kicked open. The expression later appeared in works such as Chu Renhuo's Qing Dynasty novel 'Romance of Sui and Tang' to describe door bolts worn smooth from daily use over a long time.
💡 Example Usage
这堵老墙年深月久，砖石已经风化剥落。
This old wall has stood for so long that the bricks and stones have weathered and crumbled away.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 年深月久
- Pinyin: nián shēn yuè jiǔ
- Literal Translation: years, deep, months, long
- Category: Condition
- Characters: 4