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永恒 (yǒng héng) — eternal, everlasting

Definition

永恒 is an adjective used for abstract, idealized qualities (truth, love, peace) that last forever. It pairs less with concrete objects than 永久, and is more literary than the adverb 永远.

adjective
eternaleverlasting

Examples

  • 永恒。
    Rén men duì yǒng héng de zhēn lǐ chōng mǎn kě wàng.
    People are full of longing for eternal truth.
  • 永恒。
    Zhè zuò jì niàn bēi xiàng zhēng zhe yǒng héng de hé píng.
    This monument symbolizes eternal peace.
  • 永恒。
    Tā men de yǒu yì shì yǒng héng de.
    Their friendship is eternal.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

永yǒngeternal
恒héngconstant

永 and 恒 both convey endlessness, so together they mean 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 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 恆; 恒 is its simplified writing.

  • 心心xīnheart
  • 亙亙gènpartial moon

The traditional form 恆 pairs 心, a heart, with 亙, a partial moon, which provides the sound; 恒 is a later simplified shape.

Open 恒 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Time (Abstract)5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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