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永 (yǒng) — forever, perpetually (formal/literary; used before a monosyllabic verb)

Definition

永 is a formal/literary adverb meaning 'forever' — typically placed before a monosyllabic verb (e.g. 永存, 永驻, 永不). It belongs to written or elevated prose, not everyday speech.

adverb
foreverperpetually (formal/literary; used before a monosyllabic verb)

Examples

  • 。
    Tā de jīng shén yǒng cún yú rén men xīn zhōng.
    His spirit lives forever in people's hearts.
  • 。
    Wǒ men yǒng bú huì wàng jì zhè duàn lì shǐ.
    We will never forget this period of history.
  • 永。
    Yuàn hé píng yǒng zhù rén jiān.
    May peace abide forever in the world.

Origin

Pictograph
六书liùshū
象形xiàngxíng

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.

Appears in
Frequency & Duration

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