The kanji 永 primarily conveys the idea of "eternity," "permanence," "long," or "forever." It suggests a lasting quality, something that endures through time. This can refer to both physical things and abstract concepts.

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

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

The kanji 永 is a pictograph. It depicts a person with arms outstretched, implying a sense of length or extension, and the passage of time. The top part represents the neck and head. The bottom part has been interpreted as the person's extended legs or the long flow of water. Over time, the form was simplified, but the core meaning of lasting or long remained.