lóu

Lâu is a Vietnamese word that primarily means long in duration or lasting over a long period. It functions as an adjective or an adverb and is used to express time rather than size or quantity. In everyday speech and in writing, it appears in phrases such as lâu ngày (over a long period), lâu dài (long-lasting, enduring), and đã lâu (a long time ago).

In idiomatic use, lâu often conveys a sense of aging, tradition, or the duration of a relationship or habit. Examples include mối quan hệ lâu dài (a long-standing relationship), thói quen lâu đời (an old habit or tradition), and tình cảm đã lâu (feelings that have endured for a long time). The word can also intensify temporal meaning when combined with other words, as in lâu ngày nữa or lâu một chút nữa, depending on context.

The term is native to Vietnamese and is widely understood across dialects, suitable for both formal and colloquial registers. It is commonly found in everyday conversation, literature, journalism, and other forms of discourse where duration or longevity is being described.

Note that lâu is distinct from other Vietnamese terms related to structure or height, such as lầu, which refers to a building or tower in certain contexts. While related words may appear in historical or Sino-Vietnamese expressions, lâu itself is primarily tied to time and duration in contemporary usage.