曠日持久

From The Intrigues of the Warring States:

今得強趙之兵，以杜燕，將曠日持久數歲，令士大夫餘子之力盡於溝壘，車甲羽毛𧙷敝，府庫倉廪虛。兩國交以習之，乃引其兵而歸。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]

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今得强赵之兵，以杜燕，将旷日持久数岁，令士大夫余子之力尽于沟垒，车甲羽毛裂敝，府库仓廪虚。两国交以习之，乃引其兵而归。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]

From: Zhanguo Ce, circa 5^th – 3^rd centuries BCE

Jīn dé qiáng Zhào zhī bīng, yǐ dù Yān, jiāng kuàngrì chíjiǔ shù suì, lìng shìdàfū yúzǐ zhī lì jìn yú gōulěi, chējiǎ yǔmáo liè bì, fǔkù cānglǐn xū. Liǎngguó jiāo yǐ xí zhī, nǎi yǐn qí bīng ér guī. [Pinyin]

Now that he can use the troops of the powerful Zhao to counterattack those of Yan, he will prolong the war and make it last for many years. Thus our officers and men will become exhausted due to battles fought in the open. Our chariots, armour and flags will become worn. Our depots and granaries will become empty, and both sides will be done for. Not till then will our troops be withdrawn.

曠日持久

1. long-drawn-out; protracted

   • 有好獵者，曠日持久而不得獸。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]
     有好猎者，旷日持久而不得兽。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]

     From: Lü Buwei, Master Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals, 239 BCE

     Yǒu hào liè zhě, kuàngrìchíjiǔ ér bùdé shòu. [Pinyin]

     There was a man fond of hunting who was not able to catch game for a long time.

   • 然悉力盡忠，以事聖帝，曠日持久，積數十年，官不過侍郎，位不過執戟，意者尚有遺行邪？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     然悉力尽忠，以事圣帝，旷日持久，积数十年，官不过侍郎，位不过执戟，意者尚有遗行邪？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 138 BCE, 東方朔 (Dongfang Shuo), 《答客難》(Answering the Questions of a Guest), translated by Burton Watson

     Rán xīlì jìnzhōng, yǐ shì shèngdì, kuàngrìchíjiǔ, jī shùshí nián, guān bùguò shìláng, wèi bùguò zhíjǐ, yì zhě shàngyǒu yíxíng xié? [Pinyin]

     Yet, though you have exhausted your strength and put forth the utmost loyalty in the service of our sage emperor, though you have piled up days and persisted for several decades, your rank does not exceed palace attendant, your post is no more than that of lance-bearer! I wonder, is it because there is still some action you have failed to perform?

• 曠日長久／旷日长久 (kuàngrìchángjiǔ)
• 曠日彌久／旷日弥久 (kuàngrìmíjiǔ)
• 曠日經久／旷日经久 (kuàngrìjīngjiǔ)