长远
chángyuǎn · HSK 6
long-term
🔭 长 (long) + 远 (far) = long-range, far-reaching
长 means long (in time or length) and 远 means far or distant. Together they describe something extending far ahead — long-term plans or far-reaching impact. Common in 长远来看 (in the long run).
长 — pictograph of long-haired person with cane
Originally a pictograph showing a person with long, flowing hair leaning on a cane, representing an elder. The meaning extended from 'long hair' to 'long' in general, and also to 'elder' or 'to grow' (read zhǎng). The modern form 长 is a simplification of the traditional 長.
远 — 辶 (walk) + 袁 (phonetic)
远 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The 辶 radical (a walking/movement element) carries the meaning of going or distance, while 袁 (yuán) provides the sound. The traditional form 遠 shows this structure clearly; together they convey 'far' — a place reached by long travel.