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永存 (yǒng cún) — to be eternal, to last forever

Definition

A formal/written verb meaning 'to endure forever' — used for spirit, memory, or peace, not physical objects. Most often appears in the pattern 永存于 (endure in) or 永存不灭.

verb
to be eternalto last forever

Examples

  • 永存。
    Tā de jīng shén jiāng yǒng cún zài rén men xīn zhōng.
    His spirit will live forever in people's hearts.
  • 永存。
    Wǒ men xī wàng hé píng yǒng cún yú shì jiè.
    We hope peace will last forever in the world.
  • 永存。
    Zhè fèn yǒu yì huì yǒng cún bú miè.
    This friendship will endure forever and never fade.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

永yǒngforever
存cúnexist

永 means forever and 存 means exist, so lasting forever.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 永 was drawn as a long river with side streams, or as a person swimming in water.

Open 永 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
子子zǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
才
才cái存cún
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

存 pairs 子 with 才, which was used for the sound.

Open 存 →
Appears in
Time (Abstract)

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