Kanji 永: eternity, long, lengthy

Key takeaways

Kanji 永: eternity, long, lengthy. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

永

Meaning

eternitylonglengthy

On reading

エイ

Kun reading

なが.い

Radical

水

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 永

eternity, long, lengthy

Kanji structure breakdown

永

Structure breakdown

丶 + 水

Mnemonic story

It depicts a dot (丶) representing the source above the water (水). It signifies water gushing from a spring and flowing continuously forever.

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

エイ

永遠えいえん
eternity / forever / permanence
永久えいきゅう
eternity / forever / immortality

Kun reading

なが.い

永いながい
long / lengthy / prolonged

Commonly used words

永遠
えいえん
eternity / forever / permanence
永久
えいきゅう
eternity / forever / immortality
永い
ながい
long / lengthy / prolonged

Example sentences

Example 1

永い間会わなかったね。

Translation

We haven't seen each other for a long time.

Example 2

永い旅がやっと終わった。

Translation

The long journey finally ended.

Example 3

友情は永遠に続くと思う。

Translation

I believe friendship lasts forever.

Example 4

星の光は永遠に輝くようだ。

Translation

The stars' light seems to shine eternally.

Kanji 永: eternity, long, lengthy

Kanji at a glance

Core meaning / core image

Kanji structure breakdown

Mnemonic story

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

Kun reading

Commonly used words

Example sentences

永い (ながい): meaning and examples

永遠 (えいえん): meaning and examples

永久 (えいきゅう): meaning and examples