Japanese Symbol for

永遠

eien

eternity · perpetuity · immortality

Readings

  • 永 ONエイei
  • 永 KUNなが(い)naga-i (long, eternal)
  • 遠 ONエン・オンen / on
  • 遠 KUNとお(い)tō-i (far, distant)

Meaning

Eternity, perpetuity, immortality, permanence. 永遠 combines 永 (long, perpetual) with 遠 (far, distant) — something so far into the future it never ends.

Example words

永久

eikyū

eternity, permanence, immortality

悠久

yūkyū

eternity, perpetuity

万年

mannen

ten thousand years, eternity

永劫

eigō

eternity, perpetuity

常しえ

tokoshie

eternity (poetic/literary)

未来永劫

mirai eigō

forever and ever, for all eternity

永 alone is famous in calligraphy — the character 永 contains all eight fundamental brushstrokes of Chinese/Japanese calligraphy. Mastering the 永字八法 (eiji happō, "eight methods of the character 永") is a foundational exercise for every calligraphy student.

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