Meaning
永 means 'forever' or 'eternal' and is used to express permanence or indefinite continuation. It commonly appears in formal or literary contexts and in compound words. As a standalone character, it rarely appears in casual speech but is frequently used in written Chinese and set expressions.
Usage
永 is typically used in formal or written contexts rather than everyday conversation. It appears most often in compounds like 永远 (forever) and in formal expressions related to eternity, permanence, or lasting things. When used alone, it tends to appear in literary or poetic language.
Examples
- 01我们永远是好朋友。.We will always be good friends.
- 02他的贡献将永垂不朽。.His contributions will be immortal.
Common collocations
- 永别to part forever
- 永生eternal life
- 永不never (永不放弃 - never give up)
Antonyms
Origin
The character 永 originally depicted flowing water in ancient oracle bone script, symbolizing something continuous and unending, which evolved into the meaning of 'eternal' or 'forever'.