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长存 (cháng cún) — to last forever, to be eternal

Definition

A literary/elevated verb meaning 'to endure forever', typically of spirits, friendship, peace, or memories. Closer to 永存 (a near-synonym), and more formal than the everyday 存在.

verb
to last foreverto be eternal

Examples

  • 长存。
    Tā men de jīng shén yǒng yuǎn cháng cún zài rén men xīn zhōng.
    Their spirit will forever live in people's hearts.
  • 长存。
    Xī wàng zhè hé píng néng cháng cún bú miè.
    May this peace last forever and never disappear.
  • 长存。
    Zhēn zhèng de yǒu yì kě yǐ cháng cún.
    True friendship can endure forever.

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.

长chánglong
存cúnexist

长 means long or forever, and 存 means exist, so the idea is lasting forever.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 長; 长 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 長 pictures an old man with long hair. The simplified 长 is a later shorthand, so its strokes do not show that original picture.

Open 长 →

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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