八や千ち代よ

noun

eternity; forever; very long period

Poetic or literary word for an extremely long time, often used in wishes for longevity or in traditional expressions. Not an everyday word for 'forever'.

• 君きみが代よは千ち代よに八や千ち代よにさざれ石いしの巌いわおとなりて苔こけのむすまで。

  May your reign last for a thousand, nay, eight thousand generations, until pebbles grow into boulders and moss covers them.

noun

eight thousand years

Original literal meaning; now mainly encountered in classical contexts or as an etymological note.

• 八や千ち代よという言こと葉ばは、文も字じ通どおりには八はっ千せん年ねんを意い味みする。

  The word 八千代 literally means eight thousand years.