Yonks means a long time — a really long time, longer than you expected. 'I haven't seen him for yonks.' 'That shop closed yonks ago.' It is warm, casual, slightly funny, and it is British; Americans mostly don't say it, and many wouldn't know it. Australians and New Zealanders do use it.

Yonks意思是很久 means a long time — a really long time真的很久, longer than you expected比你以為的還久. 'I haven't seen him for yonks.'像I haven't seen him for yonks(我好久沒見到他了) 'That shop closed yonks ago.'或That shop closed yonks ago(那家店好久以前就關了). It它 is warm, casual, slightly funny溫暖、隨性、帶點好玩, and it is British而且是英式用法; Americans美國人 mostly don't say it大多不這麼說, and many wouldn't know it很多人也不認識它. Australians and New Zealanders澳洲人和紐西蘭人 do use it倒是會用。

There are two things to notice about how it behaves. First, it always has the s, and it is not really counted — you never say 'three yonks'. Second, it lives in a small set of patterns: 'for yonks', 'in yonks', 'yonks ago'.

There is有 two things to notice about how it behaves兩件事要注意它的用法. First第一, it always has the s它字尾一定有s, and it is not really counted而且不真的拿來計數 — you never say 'three yonks'你不會說three yonks. Second第二, it lives in a small set of patterns它只活在一小組固定搭配裡: 'for yonks'像for yonks, 'in yonks'in yonks, 'yonks ago'yonks ago.

You will very often find it with a negative: 'I haven't been there for yonks', 'We haven't spoken in yonks'. Saying 'I waited yonks' is possible but less common; British speakers would more often say 'ages'.

You你 will very often find it with a negative很常會跟否定句一起出現: 'I haven't been there for yonks'像I haven't been there for yonks, 'We haven't spoken in yonks'或We haven't spoken in yonks. Saying 'I waited yonks'說I waited yonks is possible but less common是可以但比較少見; British speakers英國人 would more often say 'ages'更常說ages.

In fact ages is the word to keep in your head: yonks and ages mean nearly the same thing and swap freely, but ages is far more common and safe everywhere. Yonks is the more colourful, more British cousin. It is informal, so keep it out of formal writing, but it is not rude at all — you can say it to a teacher or a boss in a friendly chat.

In fact其實 ages這個字 is the word to keep in your head才是你該記住的字: yonks and ages yonks和ages mean nearly the same thing意思幾乎一樣 and swap freely而且可以自由互換, but ages不過ages far more common and safe everywhere遠遠更常見、到哪裡都安全. Yonks Yonks is the more colourful, more British cousin是比較有味道、更英式的那個親戚. It它 is informal是非正式用語, so keep it out of formal writing所以正式寫作不要用它, but it is not rude at all不過一點也不粗魯 — you可以 can say it你可以對 to a teacher or a boss in a friendly chat老師或老闆在輕鬆聊天時這麼說.