Eternal in Chinese
The Chinese word for eternal is 永恒 (yǒng héng). The standard word for eternity; dignified in formal scripts. In traditional characters it is written 永恆.
yǒng héng
Eternal
What 永恒 means.
永 means forever and 恒 means constant and enduring. 永 is also famous among calligraphers: the “eight principles of 永” (永字八法) teach the basic brush strokes through this single character.
- 永
- forever
- 恒
- constant, lasting
Simplified and traditional
永恒
永恆
Both are correct and mean the same. Traditional 永恆 keeps the older, fuller shape that calligraphy grew up with; simplified 永恒 is what most Chinese readers use today. Our seal and clerical styles write it in the traditional form.
About eternal in Chinese
How do you write eternal in Chinese?
Eternal is 永恒 in Chinese, pronounced yǒng héng. Eternal, eternity 永 means “forever”, 恒 means “constant, lasting”.
How do you pronounce 永恒?
Say yǒng (third tone, dipping), héng (second tone, rising). Mandarin tones change meaning, so it is worth listening to a native speaker once.
Is 永恒 different in traditional Chinese?
Yes. The traditional form is 永恆, used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and classical calligraphy; 永恒 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore. Both are correct.
Is 永恒 a good Chinese tattoo?
Yes, it is a real, everyday Chinese word rather than a machine translation, so Chinese readers will understand it. Keep the characters in their order, top to bottom or left to right, and never mirrored. Choose a readable style such as Kaishu, bring a clean reference to your artist, and show it to a fluent reader before your appointment.