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永 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
永
yǒng
forever
HSK 6, ns, 5 strokes, radical 水, rank #5088, Hard
永
yǒng
always
HSK 6, ns, 5 strokes, radical 水, rank #5088, Hard
永
yǒng
perpetual
HSK 6, ns, 5 strokes, radical 水, rank #5088, Hard
永
yǒng
long; perpetual, eternal; forever
HSK 6, ns, 5 strokes, radical 水, rank #5088, Hard
yǒng(yong3)yong T3
1forever
2always
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March 24, 2026
永yǒng(yong3)
The character 永 (yǒng) means 'forever' or 'eternal,' conveying the idea of something that lasts indefinitely. It is often used in contexts related to time, commitment, or enduring qualities, such as love or relationships.
Strokes5Radical水Frequency#5088DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of eternity is often idealized in literature and art, symbolizing enduring love or loyalty, as seen in famous poems and romantic tales.
Memory tip
Imagine a river (the radical of 永) flowing endlessly, representing eternity. The sound 'yǒng' can be remembered by visualizing 'young' people who believe in forever love, making a vow at the riverbank.
Meanings of 永
yǒng(yong3)
1forever
2always
Exercise 1 of 3
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About 永
永Simplified
5Strokes
水Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#5088Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6
Podcast: 永
Podcast: 永
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AI study notes for 永
Quick Contrast
永 (yǒng) vs 恒 (héng) — use 永 for a more poetic or emotional sense of eternity, while 恒 is more technical or formal, often used in scientific contexts.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 永, as a mispronunciation could change the meaning entirely. It is commonly used in formal contexts, such as poetry or declarations, and is often paired with words like '爱' (love) to express eternal love.
HSK Study Tips
Although 永 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it connects well with HSK 1 and 2 level words related to time and duration. Focus on using it in phrases that express commitment or continuity to enhance your vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 永 with 永远 (yǒngyuǎn) and use them interchangeably without understanding their nuances. For example, saying '我永爱你' instead of '我永远爱你' is incorrect; the latter is the proper expression for 'I will love you forever.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 永
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The character 永 (yǒng) means 'forever' or 'eternal,' conveying the idea of something that lasts indefinitely. It is often used in contexts related to time, commitment, or enduring qualities, such as love or relationships.
When to use 永
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 永, as a mispronunciation could change the meaning entirely. It is commonly used in formal contexts, such as poetry or declarations, and is often paired with words like '爱' (love) to express eternal love.
永 or something close to it
永 (yǒng) vs 恒 (héng) — use 永 for a more poetic or emotional sense of eternity, while 恒 is more technical or formal, often used in scientific contexts.
What learners get wrong
Learners sometimes confuse 永 with 永远 (yǒngyuǎn) and use them interchangeably without understanding their nuances. For example, saying '我永爱你' instead of '我永远爱你' is incorrect; the latter is the proper expression for 'I will love you forever.'
Write 永
永
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Grammar patterns of 永
永 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
They had entered the country and had applied for permanent residence.
5
我永远忘不了你为这些小孩子所做的一切。
wǒ yǒngyuǎn wàngbùliǎo nǐ wèi zhèxiē xiǎohái zi suǒ zuò de yíqiè。
I'm not ever going to forget what you've done for the nippers.
6
这个人的整个人格似乎被永远地扭曲了。
zhège rén de zhěnggè réngé sìhū bèi yǒngyuǎn dì niǔqū le。
The individual's whole personality appears to be permanently warped.
7
他总是渴望拥有新的经历，而且永远愿意尝试。
tā zǒngshì kěwàng yōngyǒu xīn de jīnglì， érqiě yǒngyuǎn yuànyì chángshì。
He is always eager for new experiences and ever-willing to experiment.
8
他不是完人，永远不可能十全十美。
tā bùshì wán rén， yǒngyuǎn bù kěnéng shí quán shí měi。
He was not a paragon. He would never be perfect.
9
列宁永远活在亿万人民的心中。
liè níng yǒngyuǎn huó zài yìwàn rénmín de xīnzhōng。
Lenin lives on in the minds and hearts of millions of people.
10
奥拉伊奇先生通过结婚而取得在英国的永久居留权。
ào lā yī jī xiānsheng tōngguò jiéhūn ér qǔdé zài Yīng guó de yǒngjiǔ jī liú quán。
Mr Olaechea has British residency by virtue of his marriage.
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Cultural Notes for 永
💡Did you know?
The character 永 is often used in Chinese names and phrases to symbolize everlasting love and loyalty. It embodies the idea of permanence, which is highly valued in Chinese culture.
📜Proverb
There is a popular Chinese saying, '爱是永恒的' (Love is eternal). This phrase is often used in romantic contexts to express the idea that true love lasts forever.
Word Family of 永
Compounds11
求qiúto seek
泳yǒngswimming
脉màiold variant of 脈
咏yǒngto sing, to hum, to chant
昶chǎngbright, clear; extended
怺yǒng
昹ǎi
栐yǒng
眿mò
羕yàngriver, flowing water
詠yǒngto sing, to hum, to chant
Words containing this character20
永远yǒngyuǎnforever永遠
永yǒngforever
永恒yǒnghéngeternal永恆
永不yǒngbùnever
永久yǒngjiǔeverlasting
永乐yǒnglèYongle Emperor, reign name of third Ming emperor Zhu Di 朱棣[ZhūDì] (1360-1424), reigned 1403-1424, Temple name 明成祖[MíngChéngzǔ]永樂
永生yǒngshēngto live forever
永久性yǒngjiǔxìngpermanent
永别yǒngbiéto part forever永別
永世yǒngshìeternal
一劳永逸yìláoyǒngyìto get sth done once and for all一勞永逸
崔永元cuīyǒngyuánCui Yongyuan (1963-), TV presenter
永安yǒng’ānYong'an county level city in Sanming 三明[Sānmíng], Fujian
永无止境yǒngwúzhǐjìngwithout end永無止境
永和yǒnghéYonghe or Yungho city in New Taipei City 新北市[Xīnběishì], Taiwan
永康yǒngkāngYongkang county level city in Jinhua 金華|金华[Jīnhuá], Zhejiang
永垂不朽yǒngchuíbùxiǔeternal glory
永嘉yǒngjiāreign name 307-313 of Jin Emperor Huai 晋怀帝
周永康zhōuyǒngkāngZhou Yongkang (1942-), PRC petroleum engineer and politician
永州yǒngzhōuYongzhou prefecture level city in Hunan
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 永
What does 求 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 永
Yes, one common idiom is '永不放弃' (yǒng bù fàngqì), which means 'never give up.' This phrase encourages resilience and determination, emphasizing the importance of perseverance.
In Chinese culture, the concept of eternity represented by 永 (yǒng) is often associated with ideas of loyalty, love, and commitment. It appears in poetry, art, and proverbs, reflecting values of enduring relationships and lasting principles.
永 (yǒng) means 'forever' or 'always' in Chinese. It conveys a sense of permanence or continuity. This character is often used in phrases that emphasize lasting qualities or eternal states.
You can use 永 (yǒng) in a sentence to express something that lasts indefinitely. For example, you might say '我永远爱你' (wǒ yǒngyuǎn ài nǐ), which means 'I will love you forever.' This usage highlights the concept of eternal love.
You can say '我会永远爱你' (wǒ huì yǒngyuǎn ài nǐ), which means 'I will love you forever.'
Yes, but it is more commonly found in poetic or formal contexts rather than everyday speech.
Words like 永远 (yǒngyuǎn, forever) and 永恒 (yǒnghéng, eternal) are often used in conjunction.
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