Explore 永 in words about lasting time. Learn each reading with its complete word and context.

The idea

永 has five strokes. Its common on-reading is えい, as in 永遠（えいえん）, 永久（えいきゅう） and 永住（えいじゅう）; 永い（ながい） uses a kun-reading. Follow the linked stroke diagram.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
永遠えいえんeternity
永久えいきゅうpermanence
永住えいじゅうpermanent residence
永いながいlong (time)

Examples

  • この約束やくそくは永遠えいえんには続つづきません。This promise will not last forever.
  • 彼女かのじょは日本にほんに永住えいじゅうしたいと思おもっています。She hopes to settle permanently in Japan.
  • この展示てんじは永久えいきゅうに続つづきます。This exhibition is permanent.
  • 彼かれらは永遠えいえんの平和へいわを願ねがいました。They wished for eternal peace.
  • 彼かれは永住権えいじゅうけんを取得しゅとくしました。He obtained permanent residency.
  • 永ながい別わかれの後あと、彼かれらはまた会あいました。After a long farewell, they met again.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

永遠 suggests eternity, while 永久 means permanence and 永住 means permanent residence. 永い is a literary spelling of 長い for a long time; do not assume every long object takes 永.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 永遠 in hiragana.

    Show answer or example answer

    えいえん

    永遠 is えいえん: the promise will not last forever. Learn both parts as a word.

  2. Write the reading of 永住 in hiragana.

    Show answer or example answer

    えいじゅう

    永住 is えいじゅう: the person hopes to settle permanently in Japan.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: ＿久（えいきゅう）［永／水］.

    Show answer or example answer

    永

    永 completes 永久（えいきゅう）, meaning permanent; the exhibition is permanent.

Use it today

Write 永 following the diagram, cover the table and read the words aloud. Then make a sentence with 永遠.