永 means “eternity, long-lasting”

えい · ei

Also: long, lengthy

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

ながい

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

エイ

JLPT N2 · Taught in grade 5 · 5 strokes

The story

Picture a river splitting into streams that run on without end: 永 is forever. Its five strokes hold all eight basic brush moves, so calligraphers have trained on 永 for centuries. 永遠 is eternity.

Used in 永遠 (eien, eternity), 永久 (eikyuu, permanence), and 永住 (eijuu, permanent residence)

More from The Order of Things

• 複 multiple
• 翌 next
• 補 supplement
• 旧 former
• 並 line up
• 逆 reverse
• 久 long time
• 停 stop
• 順 order
• 了 finish

Learn 永 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.