いつまでも

• Reading: いつまでも
• Romaji: itsumademo
• Pronunciation: /i.tsɯ.ma.de.mo/

Meaning

Forever; for good; indefinitely. Expresses something continuing without end.

An adverb formed from いつ (when) + まで (until) + も (even/also). Conveys endlessness, whether positive (いつまでも友達でいよう, let's be friends forever) or negative (いつまでも終わらない, it never ends). Frequently appears in emotional declarations, songs, and wedding speeches.

Examples

1. いつまでもお元気でいてください。 Please stay healthy forever.
2. いつまでも待っているから心配しないで。 I'll wait forever, so don't worry.
3. こんな生活がいつまでも続くわけがない。 There's no way this kind of life can go on forever.

Usage Guide

Context: farewells, promises, emotional moments

Tone: sentimental

Origin & History

Compound of いつ (itsu, when) + まで (made, until) + も (mo, even). Literally 'even until whenever' — the open-ended question word stretched to infinity by the inclusive particles.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal