Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
生き長らえる (いきながらえる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Freq. Frequency Top 100,000 Conjugation Meanings 1
ichidan verb, intransitive verb
live long ; survive
Describes continuing to live for a long time, often despite hardship or danger. Can imply outliving others or enduring through difficult circumstances.
せん
争そう
を
生い
き
長なが
らえ
た
人ひと
々びと
の
証しょう
言げん
は
貴き
重ちょう
だ
。
The testimonies of those who lived through the war are precious.
Written forms 生い き 長なが らえる Usage 39%
Standard kanji spelling using 長 (long) to convey the meaning of living a long time.
生い きながらえる Usage 43%
Kana-mixed spelling that is also common and avoids kanji choice.
生い き 永なが らえる Usage 17%
Variant using 永 (eternal), emphasizing long duration.
いきながらえる Usage 1%
生い き 存ながら える
Rare variant using 存 (exist).
Similar words 生い き 残のこ る 生き残る focuses on remaining alive after a specific event or among others, while 生き長らえる emphasizes the duration or continuation of life over a long period.
長なが 生い きする 長生きする is a more common and neutral term for living a long life, whereas 生き長らえる often carries a nuance of enduring or surviving against odds.
Etymology Compound of 生き (iki, continuative form of 生きる 'to live') + 長らえる (nagaraeru, 'to continue for a long time'). The second element is from 長 (naga, 'long') + ふ (fu, auxiliary verb indicating repetition/continuation) + える (eru, potential/verb-forming suffix).
exist, suppose, be aware of
