adjective / adverb HSK 5
permanent · perpetual · eternal · everlasting
Meaning
永久 describes something that lasts forever or for an indefinitely long time without ending. It emphasizes permanence and unchanging duration, commonly used for formal contexts like legal documents, agreements, or serious commitments.
Usage
永久 is more formal than its synonym 永远 and appears frequently in written Chinese, official documents, and technical contexts. It can modify nouns directly as an attributive adjective (永久的和平) or function adverbially. Common in phrases about permanent residence, lasting peace, or indefinite preservation.
Examples
- 01这座纪念碑将永久保存，以纪念那些英雄。, .This monument will be permanently preserved to commemorate those heroes.
- 02他获得了加拿大的永久居留权。.He obtained permanent residency in Canada.
Characters
Common collocations
- 永久居民permanent resident
- 永久和平lasting peace
- 永久保存permanent preservation
- 永久性permanence, permanency
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to time extension: 永 originally depicted a long river flow symbolizing continuity, while 久 shows enduring length. Together they reinforce the concept of endless duration.