adverb HSK 4
Traditional 永遠
yǒng yuǎn
forever · always · eternally · permanently

Meaning

永远 expresses the concept of something continuing indefinitely into the future without end. It emphasizes permanence and unchanging continuity, often used in emotional contexts about relationships, promises, or unchanging states.

Usage

Commonly appears in romantic expressions, promises, and statements about unchanging feelings or situations. Often paired with 不 (bú) to mean 'never' (永远不). Can sound quite dramatic or sentimental in casual conversation, so context matters. Frequently used in song lyrics and literary writing.

Examples

  1. 01
    永远不会忘记你的帮助。
    yǒng yuǎn huì wàng de bāng zhù.
    I will never forget your help.
  2. 02
    他们永远是最好的朋友。
    men yǒng yuǎn shì zuì hǎo de péng you.
    They are best friends forever.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 永远不会
    yǒng yuǎn huì
    will never
  • 永远爱你
    yǒng yuǎn ài
    love you forever
  • 永远的朋友
    yǒng yuǎn de péng you
    friends forever
  • 永远记得
    yǒng yuǎn de
    remember forever

Antonyms

Origin

The character 永 originally depicted flowing water and came to mean 'perpetual' or 'eternal,' while 远 means 'far' or 'distant.' Together they literally mean 'eternally far/distant,' conveying the sense of extending infinitely into the future.

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