The kanji 永 primarily conveys the meaning of "eternity," "permanence," or "long duration." It signifies something that lasts for a very long time, often implying forever or an extended period. The character suggests the idea of something continuing without end or experiencing little to no change over time.

・On-yomi (音読み): エイ (ei) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): なが(い) (nagai)

⚫︎ 永遠 (えいえん) Translation: eternity, forever ⚫︎ 永住 (えいじゅう) Translation: permanent residence ⚫︎ 永久 (えいきゅう) Translation: permanence; perpetuity; forever

The kanji 永 is a pictograph. It depicts a person standing with their arms outstretched and their feet rooted, illustrating the idea of something enduring or lasting. The character's form subtly suggests the continuous flow of something that "lasts forever." Over time, the form has simplified, but the underlying meaning remains rooted in the concept of lasting or eternity.