thousand years; millennium; eternity
Poetic term for a very long time, often implying permanence or an extremely long lifespan. Used in classical contexts, place names, and fixed expressions like 千歳飴.
A great tree that has lived for a thousand years stands in the forest.
This shrine boasts a history of a thousand years.
In this region there is a great pine tree called the 'thousand-year pine.'
This shrine hall has endured for a thousand years and still stands strong.
千年 is the plain modern word for 'a thousand years,' while 千歳 is a poetic, classical-sounding variant used in literary or ceremonial contexts.
永遠 is the everyday word for 'eternity,' whereas 千歳 evokes eternity specifically through the image of a very long, countable span of years.
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.
Standard kanji spelling for 'thousand years' or 'eternity'.
Kana spelling used when the kanji are unclear or for stylistic effect.
Alternate kanji spelling; more commonly read せんねん.
A native compound of ち, an old word for “thousand,” and とせ “year”; 千歳 consequently denotes a thousand years and, by extension, an indefinitely long time.