also: せいぞう
years; passage of time
Formal or literary term for the passing of many years, often with a sense of accumulated change or hardship. Not used in casual conversation.
The townscape, having seen many years pass, still quietly remains.
Through the changing years, his resolve never wavered.
many months and years; a long passage of time
Standard kanji spelling for this formal/literary noun.
Obsolete reading; it is out-dated kana usage.
Compound of 星 (star) and 霜 (frost), metaphorically representing the cycle of seasons and the passage of time. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the imagery is classical.