永遠

• Reading: えいえん
• Romaji: eien
• Kanji breakdown: 永 (ei) — eternal, long; 遠 (en/tou) — far, distant
• Pronunciation: /e.i.e.ɴ/

Meaning

Eternity; perpetuity; forever. Refers to an infinite or unending span of time.

Functions as a noun and na/no-adjective. Common patterns include 永遠の愛 (eternal love), 永遠に続く (to last forever). Frequently appears in romantic, philosophical, and literary contexts. The adverbial form 永遠に (eien ni) means 'eternally' or 'forever.'

Examples

1. 二人の友情は永遠に続くだろう。 Their friendship will probably last forever.
2. 永遠の命があったら何をしたいですか。 If you had eternal life, what would you want to do?
3. あの夏の思い出は永遠に忘れない。 I'll never forget the memories of that summer.

Usage Guide

Context: romance, philosophy, literature

Tone: poetic

Origin & History

Compound of 永 (ei, long/eternal) and 遠 (en, far/distant). Together they express the concept of something stretching endlessly in time — both long-lasting and far-reaching.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal