万年

萬年

wànnián

noun #35,985

Meanings

1 ten thousand years
2 eternity
3 (figuratively) forever, perpetual
4 Wannian (county in Shangrao, Jiangxi)

Characters

Examples

万年青是一种常见的盆栽植物。

Wànniánqīng shì yī zhǒng chángjiàn de pénzāi zhíwù.

The 'ten-thousand-year green' is a common potted plant.

他像万年不变的化石一样固执。

Tā xiàng wànnián bù biàn de huàshí yīyàng gùzhí.

He's as stubborn as a ten-thousand-year unchanged fossil.

Tips

usage

Three flavors: (1) literal 'ten thousand years'; (2) hyperbole for 'forever' — 万年单身 (perpetually single), 万年老二 (eternal runner-up); (3) the proper noun 万年县 in Jiangxi province. The compound 万年青 (wànniánqīng, evergreen) is a popular houseplant symbolizing longevity.

Stroke Order

万 wàn

年 nián