spend hours
يقضي ساعات
Use `spend hours` to highlight the significant time and effort you put into a specific activity.
15秒了解
- Used to describe doing an activity for a long time.
- Follow with a verb ending in -ing or the word 'on'.
- Often used to emphasize effort, dedication, or even boredom.
意思
When you use a very large amount of your time doing one specific activity. It suggests you were focused on that task for a long while.
关键例句
3 / 6Talking about a hobby
I can spend hours playing video games without getting bored.
يمكنني قضاء ساعات في لعب ألعاب الفيديو دون أن أشعر بالملل.
Complaining about work
She spent hours finishing the report before the deadline.
لقد قضت ساعات في إنهاء التقرير قبل الموعد النهائي.
Texting a friend about a delay
Sorry I'm late, I spent hours looking for my keys!
آسف على التأخير، لقد قضيت ساعات في البحث عن مفاتيحي!
文化背景
The phrase stems from the Western conceptual metaphor that 'Time is Money.' By using the verb 'spend,' English speakers treat their time as a valuable currency that can be invested or exhausted. It became a staple of daily conversation as the modern work-life balance grew more complex.
The -ing Rule
Always remember to use the `-ing` form of the verb after this phrase. It's the most natural way to sound like a native speaker.
Don't be too literal
If you say you 'spent hours' on something that takes 5 minutes, people will think you are being sarcastic or complaining!
15秒了解
- Used to describe doing an activity for a long time.
- Follow with a verb ending in -ing or the word 'on'.
- Often used to emphasize effort, dedication, or even boredom.
What It Means
Spend hours is a common way to say you dedicated a lot of time to something. It doesn't always mean exactly 120 minutes. It just means a long time. You are 'paying' with your time. It shows effort, passion, or sometimes frustration.
How To Use It
Use it with the -ing form of a verb. For example, spend hours reading or spend hours talking. You can also use it with on for objects. You might spend hours on a project. It is a very flexible phrase. It fits into almost any sentence structure.
When To Use It
Use it when you want to emphasize your hard work. It is great for hobbies like gaming or painting. Use it when complaining about traffic or chores. It works well when you are proud of a result. "I spent hours on this cake!" sounds like a labor of love.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it for very short tasks. If you brushed your teeth, don't say you spent hours on it. That would be a very weird joke. Avoid it in high-level legal documents. In those cases, use extended periods. Also, don't use it if you are being lazy. It implies active engagement with the task.
Cultural Background
In English-speaking cultures, time is often treated like money. We spend, save, and waste it. This phrase reflects that 'time is money' mindset. It shows that giving your time is a significant investment. People often use it to show they care about someone. If you spend hours helping a friend, it proves your loyalty.
Common Variations
Spend ages: Very common in British English.Spend a lifetime: A huge exaggeration for dramatic effect.Spend all day: When the task took over your whole schedule.Spend a good few hours: Adds a bit of emphasis to the duration.
使用说明
This phrase is neutral and safe for almost any situation. The main 'gotcha' is the grammar: ensure you use a gerund (verb + ing) or the preposition 'on' followed by a noun.
The -ing Rule
Always remember to use the `-ing` form of the verb after this phrase. It's the most natural way to sound like a native speaker.
Don't be too literal
If you say you 'spent hours' on something that takes 5 minutes, people will think you are being sarcastic or complaining!
British Variation
If you are in London, you'll hear 'spend ages' much more often than 'spend hours'. They mean exactly the same thing!
例句
6I can spend hours playing video games without getting bored.
يمكنني قضاء ساعات في لعب ألعاب الفيديو دون أن أشعر بالملل.
Shows passion and deep focus on a hobby.
She spent hours finishing the report before the deadline.
لقد قضت ساعات في إنهاء التقرير قبل الموعد النهائي.
Highlights the hard work and dedication required.
Sorry I'm late, I spent hours looking for my keys!
آسف على التأخير، لقد قضيت ساعات في البحث عن مفاتيحي!
A slight exaggeration to explain a mistake.
My cat spends hours staring at a blank wall.
قطتي تقضي ساعات في التحديق في جدار فارغ.
Used to describe a funny or strange habit.
He spent hours writing a song just for her.
لقد قضى ساعات في كتابة أغنية لها فقط.
Shows emotional investment and romantic effort.
The team spent hours researching the new market trends.
قضى الفريق ساعات في البحث في اتجاهات السوق الجديدة.
Demonstrates thoroughness in a professional setting.
自我测试
Choose the correct verb form to follow the phrase.
I spent hours ___ for the exam last night.
In English, 'spend hours' is almost always followed by the -ing form of the verb.
Complete the sentence with the correct preposition.
Don't spend hours ___ your phone before bed.
When referring to devices or specific tasks (nouns), we use 'on' after 'spend hours'.
🎉 得分： /2
视觉学习工具
Formality of 'Spend Hours'
Talking to friends about Netflix.
I spent hours watching shows.
Explaining your day to a coworker.
I spent hours on that email.
A written report or presentation.
We spent hours analyzing the data.
Where to use 'Spend Hours'
Hobbies
Painting or gaming
Work
Meetings or reports
Frustration
Traffic or waiting
Social
Talking to a best friend
常见问题
10 个问题No, it's often used figuratively. It just means a long time relative to the task, like I spent hours choosing a shirt.
Absolutely! You can spend hours doing something you love, like spending hours in the garden.
Yes, it's neutral. You can say I spent hours perfecting my coding skills to show dedication.
Spend focuses on the person's effort, while take focuses on the task itself. For example, The drive takes hours vs I spent hours driving.
It's grammatically better to use the -ing form. Say spend hours doing instead of to do.
Yes, it's very common in texting. You might text Spent hours at the gym today!
Yes, you can spend days, spend weeks, or even spend minutes if you want to be specific.
It's more of a common collocation (words that naturally go together) rather than a figurative idiom.
You can say I spent an eternity or I spent a lifetime. These are common exaggerations.
Only if a noun follows. I spent hours on my homework (noun) vs I spent hours doing homework (verb).
相关表达
Take forever
To take an extremely long time.
Kill time
To do something just to stay busy while waiting.
Pass the time
To do something to make the time go by faster.
Lost track of time
To be so busy that you forget what time it is.
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