永
eternity, long, lengthy
Readings
On'yomi
- エイ
Kun'yomi
- なが.い
Nanori
- え
- と
- のり
- ひさ
- ひさし
Meaning
永 centers on something that stretches far in time: eternal, long-lasting, or lengthy. It conveys the idea of duration without a clear end.
Most common words using 永
20 of 120- 永遠えいえんN3
eternity; perpetuity; permanence; immortality
- 永久えいきゅうN3
eternity; permanence; perpetuity
- 永続えいぞく
permanence; continuation
- 永住えいじゅうN1
permanent residence
- 永久とわ
eternity; perpetuity; permanence
- 末永くすえながく
forever; everlastingly; for many years to come; ever
- 永田町ながたちょう
Nagata-chō (Japan's political center; equiv. of Downing Street)
- 永眠えいみん
eternal sleep; eternal rest; passing away; death
- 永年えいねん
many years; a long time
- 半永久はんえいきゅう
semipermanence
- 永代えいたい
permanence; eternity
- 未来永劫みらいえいごう
forevermore; for eternity
- 寛永かんえい
Kan'ei era (1624.2.30-1644.12.16)
- 永世えいせい
eternity; perpetuity; immortality; permanence
- 永劫えいごう
eternity; perpetuity
- 安永あんえい
An'ei era (1772.11.16-1781.4.2)
- 宝永ほうえい
Hōei era (1704.3.13-1711.4.25)
- 応永おうえい
Ōei era (1394.7.5-1428.4.27)
- 永らえるながらえる
to have a long life; to live a long time
- 日永ひなが
long day (esp. of spring)
Study
Etymology
永 is a pictograph of a long, flowing stream of water, symbolizing something that continues without end. The modern form retains the water-like strokes extended to suggest length.
Meaning mnemonic
The shape looks like water 水 with an extra long stroke on top, like a river that flows forever. Picture an eternal stream stretching into the distance.
Reading mnemonic
For エイ, imagine an eternal letter 'A' that never fades: A -> エイ, lasting forever like the kanji's meaning.