also: よろずとせ
ten thousand years; an extremely long time; eternity
Literally 'ten thousand years'; often used proverbially or rhetorically for great longevity or an unimaginably long time. The reading よろずとせ is archaic.
鶴は千年、亀は万年と言われる。
It is said that cranes live a thousand years and turtles ten thousand.
この歌は国の万年の栄えを祈るものだ。
This song prays for the country to prosper forever.
perennial; perpetual; ever-present
Only when written 万年 · Only with reading まんねん
Prefix use read まんねん, forming compounds that mean something is permanent, perennial, or always in the same state. In human-status compounds, it can sound mildly humorous or critical, as in 'perpetual substitute' or 'always last'.
山頂には万年雪が残っている。
Perennial snow remains on the mountain summit.
彼はチームの万年補欠だった。
He was the team's perpetual substitute.
永遠 means 'eternity' or 'forever' in a direct, abstract sense, while 万年 literally means 'ten thousand years' and is often used proverbially or as a compound-forming prefix.
多年 is a more literal, formal word for 'many years', while 万年 emphasizes an extremely long or seemingly endless duration, often rhetorically.
多年生 is the precise botanical term for a perennial plant, while 万年 as a prefix is a broader, more general way to describe something perpetual or unchanging.
万年 ('ten thousand years') is often paired with 千歳/千年 in classical imagery to express extreme longevity, with 万年 suggesting an even vaster span.
fountain pen
precast concrete fence
woman of perennial youth
Standard modern spelling and reading. Used both as a noun meaning an extremely long span, literally ten thousand years, and as a prefix in compounds.
Old or obsolete reading for the noun sense; useful mainly for recognizing archaic or literary usage.
Attested old spelling/reading for the noun sense. Do not confuse this with the common word 万歳 read ばんざい.
万 means 'ten thousand' or 'myriad' and 年 means 'year', so 万年 literally means 'ten thousand years'. The old reading よろずとせ reflects native-style words for 'myriad' and 'years'; the exact historical usage of the alternate spelling 万歳 is not detailed.
permanently laid-out futon; bedding never put away
perpetual calendar for auspicious/inauspicious days