恒 (héng) — (bound form) constant, lasting, permanent

Definition

恒 (héng) is a bound form meaning 'constant, lasting' — nearly always used as part of a compound (永恒, 恒温, 恒心), rarely alone. Stronger and more literary than 永 in 永远.

bound form
constantlastingpermanent
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Tā xué xí hěn yǒu héng xīn.
    He has great perseverance in his studies.
  • 。
    Zhè ge fáng jiān shì héng wēn de.
    This room is temperature-controlled.
  • 。
    Ài qíng shì yǒng héng de zhǔ tí.
    Love is an eternal theme.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

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.

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