历久 (lì jiǔ) — to last a long time; enduring

Definition

历久 means 'to endure over a long time' — almost always followed by 不衰 or 弥新 in set phrases meaning something stays strong or grows fresher with age.

verb

to last a long timeenduring

历久。
Zhè zhǒng yǒu yì lì jiǔ bù shuāi.
This friendship endures and never fades.
历久。
Chuán tǒng xū yào lì jiǔ kǎo yàn.
Traditions need to withstand the test of time.
。
Jīng diǎn zuò pǐn lì jiǔ mí xīn.
Classic works become fresher as time passes.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

历lìundergo

久jiǔlong time

历 (undergoing) and 久 (long time) combine to mean enduring for a long time.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 歷; 历 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 历 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (简历, 经历) it is 歷; in others (日历) it is 曆.

厤止歷

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

厤

厤lì歷lì

Same sound today

The form 歷 pairs 止 with the sound part 厤.

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

久 likely came from a simple drawing of an arrow tip.