天长地久

• Pinyin: tiān cháng dì jiǔ
• Hanzi breakdown: 天 = 一 + 大 — heaven; 长 = long; 地 = 土 (earth) + 也 — earth; 久 = long-lasting

Meaning

As eternal as heaven and earth; everlasting; enduring forever.

A classical idiom expressing the wish for something to last forever, as enduring as the heavens and earth. Commonly used for love, friendship, or bonds that one hopes will never end. Often appears in wedding toasts and romantic contexts.

Examples

1. 他们在婚礼上许下诺言，愿两人的爱情天长地久。 At their wedding, they made vows wishing their love to last forever.
2. 真正的友谊不在于朝夕相处，而在于能否天长地久。 True friendship isn't about being together every day, but whether it can endure forever.
3. 妈妈说希望我们一家人的幸福能天长地久。 Mom said she hopes our family's happiness will last for eternity.

Usage Guide

Context: romantic, ceremonial, sentimental

Tone: poetic

Do Say

• 祝你们天长地久！(May your love last forever!)
• 我们的友谊天长地久。(Our friendship will be everlasting.)

Don't Say

• 用于描述物品的耐用性 (Don't use 天长地久 for product durability — it's reserved for emotional bonds)

Origin & History

From the Daodejing: 天长地久 — Heaven and earth are long-lasting. Used to describe permanence.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal