What does 长 mean in Chinese?

长 (cháng) means "length; long; forever; always; constantly" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 2.

How do you pronounce 长?

长 is pronounced "cháng" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 2.

What HSK level is 长?

长 is an HSK 2 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 2 on both the old and the new exam.

What words contain the character 长?

Common words with 长 include 久长 (a long time), 亭长 (ancient official title), 伸长 (to stretch), 保长 ((math.) distance-preserving), 保长 (head of a bao in the Bao-Jia system 保甲制度[bao3 jia3 zhi4 du4]).

How do you write 长?

长 has 4 strokes. Its radical is 长. You can view the stroke order animation on our stroke order tool.

长 (cháng), length

长

cháng

length; long; forever; always

HSK 24 strokes

Traditional: 長

Character Breakdown

Hair flowing long — length, to grow

Radical: 长 (no. 168)Strokes: 4Traditional: 長

View stroke order →

Definitions

length
long
forever
always
constantly

Example Sentences

很长的路。

Hěn cháng de lù

A very long road

Words Containing 长

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
久长	jiǔ cháng	a long time
亭长	tíng zhǎng	ancient official title
伸长	shēn cháng	to stretch
保长	bǎo cháng	(math.) distance-preserving
保长	bǎo zhǎng	head of a bao in the Bao-Jia system 保甲制度[bao3 jia3 zhi4 du4]

Related Words

时刻(shí kè)· moment

→

一直以来(yī zhí yǐ lái)· in the past always

→

分久必合，合久必分(fēn jiǔ bì hé , hé jiǔ bì fēn)· lit. that which is long divided must unify, and that which is long unified must divide (idiom, from 三國演義|三国演义[San1 guo2 Yan3 yi4])

→

永(yǒng)· forever

→

Grammar Notes

Duration ComplementHSK 2

Subject + Verb + 了 + Duration (+ Object)

Passive with 被HSK 3

Receiver + 被 + (Doer) + Verb + Complement/了

Expressing Change (了 sentence-final)HSK 3

Statement + 了 (at end of sentence)

I'm Afraid (恐怕)HSK 4

Subject + 恐怕 + Predicate

Pivotal Sentence (兼语句)HSK 4

Subject1 + Verb1 + Noun (pivot) + Verb2 + Object2

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 2
HSK 2.0: HSK 2
HSK Lord study list: HSK 2 list

长: HSK 2 on both the old and the new exam. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 2 exam

Studying for HSK 2? Keep 长 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 2 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.