Definitions

yǒng (adjective) forever; eternal; perpetual

Etymology

Pictograph of a long river with a tributary.

About

The character "永" originates from an early pictorial representation of flowing water, sharing an etymological foundation with the character "泳" meaning to swim. Its present structure is a stylized derivative of that aquatic depiction, though the visual connection is no longer direct. Semantically, "永" initially conveyed the sense of something long or extended in a physical context, such as a river's flow, before evolving to express the abstract concept of permanence or eternity.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Warring States (~300 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我们远是朋友。

Wǒmen yǒngyuǎn shì péngyou.

We are friends forever.

这个协议是久的。

Zhège xiéyì shì yǒngjiǔ de.

This agreement is permanent.

爱情是恒的主题。

Àiqíng shì yǒnghéng de zhǔtí.

Love is an eternal theme.

远记得那个日子。

Tā yǒngyuǎn jìde nàgè rìzi.

He will always remember that day.

如果你远不放弃,你就会成功。

Rúguǒ nǐ yǒngyuǎn bù fàngqì, nǐ jiù huì chénggōng.

If you never give up, you will succeed.

这座纪念碑将存于人们心中。

Zhè zuò jìniànbēi jiāng yǒngcún yú rénmen xīnzhōng.

This monument will forever exist in people's hearts.

只要世界存在,和平就是恒的追求。

Zhǐyào shìjiè cúnzài, hépíng jiùshì yǒnghéng de zhuīqiú.

As long as the world exists, peace is an eternal pursuit.

尽管时间流逝,但那些美好的回忆将驻我心。

Jǐnguǎn shíjiān liúshì, dàn nàxiē měihǎo de huíyì jiāng yǒngzhù wǒ xīn.

Although time passes, those beautiful memories will forever reside in my heart.