永久

yǒngjiǔ: 永久 - Permanent, Forever, Everlasting

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: 永久, yongjiu, Chinese for permanent, Chinese for everlasting, permanent in Chinese, lasting forever, what does yongjiu mean, HSK 5 vocabulary, 永久 vs 永远, Chinese formal words
  • Summary: Learn the meaning of 永久 (yǒngjiǔ), the Chinese word for “permanent” and “everlasting.” This guide explains how `yǒngjiǔ` is used in formal, official, and literal contexts to describe a state that is meant to last indefinitely, such as a “permanent resident” or “permanent damage.” Discover the crucial difference between `永久` and its more emotional counterpart, `永远 (yǒngyuǎn)`, to avoid common mistakes and speak more like a native.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): yǒngjiǔ
  • Part of Speech: Adjective, Adverb
  • HSK Level: HSK 5
  • Concise Definition: Lasting or intended to last or remain unchanged indefinitely; permanent, everlasting.
  • In a Nutshell: `永久` describes a state of being permanent, fixed, and unchanging. It has a formal, objective, and almost legalistic tone. Think less about the emotional “I'll love you forever” and more about the factual “this is a permanent solution” or “the building sustained permanent damage.” It's about a condition or status that is not temporary.

Character Breakdown

  • 永 (yǒng): This character means “perpetual,” “always,” or “forever.” Its original form is thought to be a pictogram of a person swimming in a long, flowing river, evoking the sense of something that goes on and on without end.
  • 久 (jiǔ): This character means “long” in terms of time duration. It depicts a person with their arms propped up, suggesting they have been in that position for a long time.
  • When combined, 永久 (yǒngjiǔ) literally means “perpetually long.” This creates a powerful and formal word that emphasizes a state of being indefinite, unchangeable, and truly permanent.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • In Chinese culture, there is a deep-seated appreciation for things that demonstrate endurance and stability, from ancient dynasties and philosophies to family lineages. The term `永久` taps into this value, lending weight and seriousness to whatever it describes. It signifies a break from the temporary and a commitment to something lasting.
  • A useful Western comparison is the distinction between “permanent” and “forever.” In English, we might casually say “I'm going to be here forever,” but we would use “permanent” for an official status, like a “permanent resident” or a “permanent record.” `永久` almost exclusively occupies that latter, more serious and formal space. While “permanent marker” in English is a common phrase, its Chinese equivalent, `永久性记号笔 (yǒngjiǔxìng jìhàobǐ)`, sounds far more technical and official. This highlights how `永久` is reserved for contexts where permanence is a serious, defining characteristic.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • `永久` is most commonly found in formal, written, or technical contexts. It is rarely used in casual, everyday conversation.
  • Official and Legal Status: This is one of its primary uses. It describes statuses that are not temporary or conditional.
    • e.g., `永久居民` (yǒngjiǔ jūmín) - Permanent resident (Green Card holder)
    • e.g., `永久地址` (yǒngjiǔ dìzhǐ) - Permanent address
  • Technical and Medical Descriptions: It is used to describe conditions or effects that are irreversible.
    • e.g., `永久性损伤` (yǒngjiǔxìng sǔnshāng) - Permanent damage/injury
    • e.g., `永久磁铁` (yǒngjiǔ cítiě) - Permanent magnet
  • Formal and Abstract Concepts: It can be used to describe lofty ideals or lasting legacies.
    • e.g., `实现世界永久和平` (shíxiàn shìjiè yǒngjiǔ hépíng) - To achieve permanent world peace
    • e.g., `一个永久的纪念` (yí ge yǒngjiǔ de jìniàn) - A permanent memorial
  • Its connotation is generally neutral and factual. It states a fact about something's enduring nature rather than expressing an emotional wish.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 他终于获得了美国的永久居留权。
    • Pinyin: Tā zhōngyú huòdéle Měiguó de yǒngjiǔ jūliúquán.
    • English: He finally obtained permanent residency in the United States.
    • Analysis: This is a classic example of `永久` used in a formal, legal context. “Permanent residency” is an official, non-temporary status.
  • Example 2:
    • 这次事故给他留下了永久的疤痕。
    • Pinyin: Zhècì shìgù gěi tā liúxiàle yǒngjiǔ de bāhén.
    • English: The accident left him with a permanent scar.
    • Analysis: Here, `永久` describes a physical condition that is irreversible. It's a factual, medical description.
  • Example 3:
    • 我们需要找到一个永久的解决方案，而不是临时的。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào zhǎodào yí ge yǒngjiǔ de jiějué fāng'àn, ér búshì línshí de.
    • English: We need to find a permanent solution, not a temporary one.
    • Analysis: This highlights the direct contrast between `永久` (permanent) and `临时` (línshí - temporary) in a problem-solving or business context.
  • Example 4:
    • 这支笔是永久性的，写错了就擦不掉了。
    • Pinyin: Zhè zhī bǐ shì yǒngjiǔxìng de, xiě cuòle jiù cā bù diàole.
    • English: This marker is permanent; if you write something wrong, you can't erase it.
    • Analysis: The suffix `性 (-xìng)` is often added to create a more technical adjective, meaning “of a permanent nature.”
  • Example 5:
    • 这座纪念碑是为了永久纪念那些英雄们而建立的。
    • Pinyin: Zhè zuò jìniànbēi shì wèile yǒngjiǔ jìniàn nàxiē yīngxióngmen ér jiànlì de.
    • English: This monument was built to permanently commemorate those heroes.
    • Analysis: In this more figurative sense, `永久` acts as an adverb, describing the intended eternal nature of the commemoration.
  • Example 6:
    • 战争给这个国家带来了永久的创伤。
    • Pinyin: Zhànzhēng gěi zhè ge guójiā dàiláile yǒngjiǔ de chuāngshāng.
    • English: The war brought permanent trauma to this country.
    • Analysis: `永久` is used here to describe a deep, lasting, and abstract form of damage—trauma—that is not easily healed.
  • Example 7:
    • 某些核废料需要永久储存。
    • Pinyin: Mǒuxiē héfèiliào xūyào yǒngjiǔ chǔcún.
    • English: Certain nuclear waste requires permanent storage.
    • Analysis: This is a technical usage. The storage is intended to be indefinite and unchanging.
  • Example 8:
    • 他被永久禁止参加任何比赛。
    • Pinyin: Tā bèi yǒngjiǔ jìnzhǐ cānjiā rènhé bǐsài.
    • English: He was permanently banned from participating in any competitions.
    • Analysis: A formal, official ruling. The ban is not temporary; it is for life.
  • Example 9:
    • 博物馆将这件文物列为永久展品。
    • Pinyin: Bówùguǎn jiāng zhè jiàn wénwù liè wéi yǒngjiǔ zhǎnpǐn.
    • English: The museum has designated this artifact as a permanent exhibit.
    • Analysis: `永久` describes the status of the exhibit. It will always be on display, unlike a temporary or traveling exhibition.
  • Example 10:
    • 他的名字被永久地刻在了历史书上。
    • Pinyin: Tā de míngzì bèi yǒngjiǔ de kè zài le lìshǐ shū shàng.
    • English: His name was permanently engraved in the history books.
    • Analysis: A figurative use implying a lasting, unchangeable legacy. The adverbial form `永久地 (yǒngjiǔ de)` is used here.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • The most common mistake for English speakers is confusing `永久 (yǒngjiǔ)` with `永远 (yǒngyuǎn)`. They both translate to “forever” or “permanent,” but their usage is completely different.
  • `永久 (yǒngjiǔ)` - A Permanent State
    • Refers to a status, condition, or quality that is unchanging.
    • It is objective, formal, and static.
    • Think: “permanent address,” “permanent damage,” “permanent solution.”
  • `永远 (yǒngyuǎn)` - For All Future Time
    • Refers to a duration of time that continues endlessly into the future.
    • It is often subjective, emotional, and dynamic.
    • Think: “I'll love you forever,” “I'll never forget this,” “friends forever.”
  • INCORRECT USAGE:
    • `我永久爱你。` (Wǒ yǒngjiǔ ài nǐ.)
    • Why it's wrong: This sounds like you are signing a legal contract to love someone. It's cold, formal, and completely unnatural. Love is an ongoing action/emotion over time, not a fixed status.
    • CORRECT: `我永远爱你。` (Wǒ yǒngyuǎn ài nǐ.) - I will love you forever.
  • INCORRECT USAGE:
    • `他得到了永远居留权。` (Tā dédàole yǒngyuǎn jūliúquán.)
    • Why it's wrong: “Residency” is an official, legal status. `永远` is too emotional and imprecise for this context.
    • CORRECT: `他得到了永久居留权。` (Tā dédàole yǒngjiǔ jūliúquán.) - He obtained permanent residency.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • `永远` (yǒngyuǎn) - The most common word for “forever.” It is used for expressing feelings, promises, and actions that continue through time. The key counterpart to `永久`.
  • `永恒` (yǒnghéng) - Eternal, timeless. More philosophical and abstract than `永久`. Used for concepts like eternal love, eternal truth, or the eternal universe.
  • `长久` (chángjiǔ) - For a long time. It implies a long duration but not necessarily true permanence. A relationship can be `长久`, but that doesn't mean it's contractually `永久`.
  • `持久` (chíjiǔ) - Lasting, durable, enduring. This focuses on the ability of something to withstand wear or last for a long time, like a `持久` battery or `持久` peace.
  • `暂时` (zànshí) - Antonym. Temporary, for the time being.
  • `临时` (línshí) - Antonym. Temporary, provisional, impromptu. Often used for solutions or arrangements, e.g., a `临时` government.
  • `永久居民` (yǒngjiǔ jūmín) - A key collocation: “permanent resident” (e.g., a green card holder).
  • `一辈子` (yībèizi) - A lifetime. A personal and finite way to express a very long period, often used in promises or descriptions of one's life.