永: the kanji for eternal; long
永 is a JLPT N2 kanji that means eternal; long. Below are its readings, 4 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
永 is written in 5 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
永 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 4 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
エイ (ei)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 永遠えいえん · eien | eternity |
| 永久えいきゅう · eikyū | permanence |
| 永住えいじゅう · eijū | permanent residence |
ながい (nagai)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 永いながい · nagai | long (eternal) |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 二人は永遠の愛を誓った。Futari wa eien no ai o chikatta.The two of them vowed eternal love.
- 日本に永住するつもりだ。Nihon ni eijū suru tsumori da.I plan to live in Japan permanently.
- この規則は永久に変わらないわけではない。Kono kisoku wa eikyū ni kawaranai wake de wa nai.This rule is not unchangeable forever.
- 祖父は永い眠りについた。Sofu wa nagai nemuri ni tsuita.My grandfather passed away.
- 永住の許可を申請した。Eijū no kyoka o shinsei shita.I applied for permanent residency.
Questions about 永
How many strokes does 永 have?
永 is written in 5 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 永?
The on readings are ei (エイ). The kun readings are nagai (ながい).
What JLPT level is 永?
N2. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N2 is designed to match the former Level 2.
More JLPT N2 kanji
Numbers, time and quantity
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 永
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.