长龙
cháng lóng
Long dragon · trad. 長龍
长龙 (chánglóng) literally means "long dragon." However, it's most commonly used metaphorically to describe a very long line or queue of people, vehicles, or objects, resembling a winding dragon.
When to use it
Neutral and descriptive. It's a vivid way to describe a long queue. For a more direct term, you can use 长队 (chángduì), meaning "long queue." When talking about people queuing, you can use 排队 (páiduì) for "to queue."
How to pronounce it
Sounds like "CHAHNG-LOONG." Both syllables have a rising tone, so the pitch goes up for both 长 and 龙.
Other ways to say it
- 长队cháng duìlong queue / long line
- 排长队pái zhǎng duìto stand in a long queue
- 长长的队伍cháng cháng de duì wua very long line (descriptive)
Examples
火车站排起了长龙。
huǒ chē zhàn pái qǐ le cháng lóng 。
A long queue formed at the train station.
高速公路上堵车堵成了长龙。
gāo sù gōng lù shang dǔ chē dǔ chéng le cháng lóng 。
The traffic jam on the highway formed a long line (of cars).
门口的队伍像一条长龙。
mén kǒu de duì wu xiàng yì tiáo cháng lóng 。
The line at the entrance was like a long dragon.
Pro tip: While 长龙 literally means 'long dragon,' its most common use is metaphorical, describing a very long line or queue of people or vehicles, evoking the image of a winding dragon. Don't use it for actual mythical dragons unless you're describing their length.
Related phrases
龙 · Dragon饺子 · Dumpling金龙 · Gold dragon
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