1.
to be prolonged; to drag on; to last longer than expected
For something, typically an undesirable situation, to continue longer than expected or hoped. Commonly used for illnesses, meetings, negotiations, and other processes.
会議が長引いた。
The meeting dragged on.
風邪が長引いて、なかなか治らない。
My cold is dragging on and won't go away.
交渉が予想以上に長引き、契約は来月に持ち越しになった。
Negotiations dragged on longer than expected, and the contract was carried over to next month.
長引く is an intransitive godan verb. It carries a negative nuance — the prolongation is usually unwanted.
ASPECT (ている):
長引いている indicates that something is currently in a prolonged state.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 会議が長引く (a meeting drags on)
- 病気が長引く (an illness is prolonged)
- 工事が長引く (construction drags on)
- 裁判が長引く (a trial drags on)
- 梅雨が長引く (the rainy season lingers)
NUANCE:
長引く almost always implies something undesirable continuing. It would not be used for pleasant experiences lasting longer.