<p>Your confusion came from only thinking 多 as "how" as in: </p>

<ul>
<li><p>多少? (how many?)</p></li>
<li><p>多快？(how fast?) </p></li>
<li><p>多久？ (how long?) * time</p></li>
</ul>

<p>However, 多 can, and mostly means "many/much" as in:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>多日 (many days) </p></li>
<li><p>多人 (many people)</p></li>
<li><p>多時 (much time)</p></li>
</ul>

<p>In 過不了多久, you don't see a question mark, which mean it is not a question, and 多 here means " much" and 久 means " long time" </p>

<p>The structure of this phrase is: 
要不了(would not take) 多(much) 久(long time) </p>

<p>多 here function as "<strong>very</strong>"</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-19T20:31:29.777Z
2016-11-19T20:31:29.777Z
Tang Ho
<p>Please help me explain how 要不了多久 is translated into "It won't be long"</p>

<p>Literal meaning would be "Could not demand how long?"
I am not sure how 多久 works in this context.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-19T16:50:38.703Z
it will not demand 多久／much time, cf. 过不了多久...  it won't be long before.., 多久?  How long?
user6065
<grammar>
Please explain 要不了多久
# Please explain 要不了多久

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-11-19)

Please help me explain how 要不了多久 is translated into "It won't be long"

Literal meaning would be "Could not demand how long?"
I am not sure how 多久 works in this context.

**Tags:** grammar

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: it will not demand 多久／much time, cf. 过不了多久...  it won't be long before.., 多久?  How long?  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-11-19. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

Your confusion came from only thinking 多 as "how" as in:

* 多少? (how many?)
* 多快？(how fast?)
* 多久？ (how long?) \* time

However, 多 can, and mostly means "many/much" as in:

* 多日 (many days)
* 多人 (many people)
* 多時 (much time)

In 過不了多久, you don't see a question mark, which mean it is not a question, and 多 here means " much" and 久 means " long time"

The structure of this phrase is:
要不了(would not take) 多(much) 久(long time)

多 here function as "**very**"


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