永 meaning and stroke order
Long; perpetual, eternal; forever
How to write 永, stroke by stroke
5 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Meaning of 永
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- forever
- always
- perpetual
How 永 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 水 (water), shared by 15 characters on this site.
How to remember 永
永 (yǒng) looks like 水 (shuǐ, water) with an extra dot and stroke on top. Picture a river that keeps flowing and never stops, so it lasts forever.
永 is mostly used in words rather than alone, and the most common is 永远 (yǒngyuǎn), forever. It also comes before a verb in more formal phrases like 永不放弃 (yǒng bù fàngqì), never give up. Example: 我永远爱你。(Wǒ yǒngyuǎn ài nǐ.) I will love you forever.
Common mistake: Learners often write 永 like 水 and forget the dot on top, or confuse it with 冰 (bīng, ice). Also keep the third tone: yǒng, not yòng like 用 (yòng, to use).
Common words with 永
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 永远 | yǒngyuǎn | forever; eternal | HSK 2 |
| 永不 | yǒng bù | never; will never | HSK 7-9 |
| 永恒 | yǒnghéng | eternal; everlasting | HSK 7-9 |
| 永久 | yǒngjiǔ | everlasting; perpetual | HSK 7-9 |
| 永生 | yǒngshēng | to live forever; eternal life | |
| 永别 | yǒngbié | to part forever; eternal parting (i.e. death) | |
| 永存 | yǒngcún | everlasting; to endure forever | |
| 永久性 | yǒngjiǔxìng | permanent | |
| 一劳永逸 | yīláoyǒngyì | to get sth done once and for all | |
| 永世 | yǒngshì | eternal; forever | |
| 永无止境 | yǒngwúzhǐjìng | (idiom) without end; never-ending | |
| 永垂不朽 | yǒngchuíbùxiǔ | eternal glory; will never be forgotten | |
| 永永远远 | yǒngyǒngyuǎnyuǎn | for ever and ever |
永 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 永
Learning 永 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 永
How many strokes are in 永?
永 is written with 5 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 永 mean?
永 (yǒng) means long; perpetual, eternal; forever. A common word with it is 永远 (yǒngyuǎn), meaning "forever; eternal".
How do you pronounce 永?
永 is pronounced yǒng, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 永?
The radical of 永 is 水, which carries the idea of "water". Dictionaries list 永 under this radical.
Is 永 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 永 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
What is the difference between 永远 and 一直?
永远 (yǒngyuǎn) means forever, including the future without end. 一直 (yìzhí) means continuously or all along, usually over a limited period. 我一直在等你 means I have been waiting for you all this time.
Why is 永 famous in Chinese calligraphy?
There is a well-known practice method called the Eight Principles of 永 (永字八法, yǒng zì bā fǎ). The character is used because its strokes show the basic stroke types in Chinese writing, so students practice it to learn them.