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永遠
eien
eternity
永遠の愛を誓う
to vow eternal love
formal
Time without end; eternity; perpetuity.
この絵は永遠の美しさを表現している。
This painting expresses eternal beauty.
永遠の平和を願う。
To wish for eternal peace.
Often used in literary, philosophical, or romantic contexts. Can imply both infinite duration and timeless quality.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguishing from similar words
永遠 emphasizes the concept of endless time, while 永劫 (eigō) often implies a cyclical or unchanging state. 不滅 (fumetsu) means 'immortality' or 'indestructibility', focusing on unending existence rather than time itself.
Gold Rule
Formal vs. Informal
永遠 is formal and literary. In casual speech, expressions like 'ずっと' (forever) or 'いつまでも' (always) are more common.
Word Origin
From Middle Chinese 永遠 (yǐng yuǎn), where 永 (yǐng) means 'long' or 'permanent' and 遠 (yuǎn) means 'far' or 'distant'. Combined to mean 'endless time' or 'eternity'. The compound entered Japanese via Classical Chinese.
Usage Notes
Used in both literal and figurative contexts. In literature, it often carries a poetic or philosophical nuance. In everyday speech, it may be used hyperbolically (e.g., '永遠に待つ' — 'to wait forever').
Word Breakdown
永
long, permanent
root遠
far, distant
root和英辞典