Immortality in Chinese / Japanese...

bù xiǔ

fukyuu

불후

不朽 means immortal or immortality in Chinese, Japanese Kanji and old Korean Hanja.

The literal translation is "without decay" or "never rotting." Basically, this title speaks of something or someone who never dies and thus never rots or decays.

This can also be translated as everlasting, eternal or imperishable.

yǒng shēng

eisei

영생

These are the last two words from John 3:16 in the Chinese Union Bible.

Although not specifically Christian, this is the way to express ever-lasting life or eternal life in Chinese.

In Japanese, this can either mean eternal life or immortality.

See Also:  Eternity | Rebirth | Reincarnation

huò dé yǒng shēng de yào shí shì xiān yào huó dé jīng cǎi

This is a famous quote from Bruce Lee. However, when quoted, he was speaking in English. So this is a translation of his English quote into Chinese. Since Bruce spoke both Chinese and English, his quotes sometimes go both ways.

shòu

ju / kotobuki

수

壽 can be defined as "long life" or "longevity" in the simplest form.

Please note that Japanese use a simplified version of this character - it also happens to be the same simplification used in mainland China. Click on the character to the right if you want the Japanese/Simplified version.

cháng shòu

chouju

장수

Used as a noun, this word means "longevity" or "the ability to live long." It can also be an adjective meaning "long lived."

Please note that Japanese use a simplified version of the second character of longevity - it also happens to be the same simplification used in mainland China. Click on the character to the right if you want the Japanese/Simplified version of this two-character longevity calligraphy.

nan zan no jyu

南山之壽 is a wish for long life for someone. The first part of this Japanese phrase is, "Nan Zan," which literally means "south mountain." This mountain is one of good wishes, good fortune, and prosperity. The title is often used as a salutation of good wishes.

The third Kanji is just a connector, and the last Kanji means long life or longevity.

I guess you could translate this phrase as "May your life be as long as Nan Zan is tall."

fú rú dōng hǎi shòu bǐ nán shān

This is a phrase that means "May you have good fortune as great as the eastern oceans, and may your life last as long as the southern mountains."

In ancient Chinese mythology, the eastern oceans and southern mountains are where God resides (basically it is the same as saying "heaven"). So it's like saying, "May your good fortune and life be as vast as the heavens."

There is also a longer, 14-character version of this phrase. Also, this can be cut into two scrolls (with half the phrase on each side - great for hanging on either side of a doorway). Just let me know if you'd like a special version (there is an additional cost).

yǒng héng

永恆 is the Chinese word for eternity.
The first character means always, forever and perpetual. The second character holds the meaning of permanent. Together, they create a word that means eternal, eternally or infinite time.

yǒng yuǎn

ei-en

영원

永遠 is the Chinese, Korean and Japanese word for "forever."

If we take this word apart, the first character means "always," "forever" or "perpetual." While the second character means "far" or "distant."

lái shì

rai-se

내세

來世 can be used in many different ways. It is often used to express the next life (life in heaven or wherever your soul is bound for). So it does have a religious overtone. However, it can also be used to express your life in the future - perhaps during your present lifetime. It can also be translated as "the next world," "the next generation," "the time that is to come," "otherworld," or simply "posterity."

See Also:  Eternity | Rebirth | Reincarnation

wú qióng

mu kyuu

무궁

無窮 is the Chinese and Korean word meaning infinity, eternity, infinitude, infinite or endless.

無窮 literally translates as "without [ever becoming] exhausted/poor," and in that context, can mean "inexhaustible" or "boundless" but this is usually read as "without end." Some extended definitions include eternity, infinitude, or immortality.

In certain context, it can mean "immortality."

The first character means "never" or "not." The second means "exhausted," "finished," or "ending."

Note: 無窮 is a Japanese word but rarely used in modern Japan.

ei en no yuu

The first two characters mean eternal, eternity, perpetuity, forever, immortality, and permanence.

The third character is a possessive article which sort of makes this selection mean "Love, of the eternal kind."

The last character is "friend" or "Friendship."

See Also:  Best Friends

yǒng yuǎn de ài

The first two characters mean forever, eternal, eternity, perpetuity, immortality, and/or permanence.

The third character is a possessive article which sort of makes this selection mean "The forever kind of love."

The last character is "love."

See Also:  Eternal Love Always

yǒng yuǎn de jiā

永遠的家 is a special phrase that we composed for a "family by adoption" or "adoptive family."

It's the dream of every orphan and foster child to be formally adopted and find their "forever family."

The first two characters mean forever, eternal, eternity, perpetuity, immortality, and/or permanence. The third character connects this idea with the last character which means "family" and/or "home."

See Also:  Family

ài yǒng yuǎn

ai ei en

The first character here means "love."

The last two mean forever, eternity, eternal, perpetuity, immortality, and/or permanence.

愛永遠 is the shortest and most universal way to express this idea in Chinese and Japanese.

Japanese note: This sound more like a title than a phrase in Japanese (if that makes any sense). 愛永遠 is a great title for a romantic book, title of a movie, name of a perfume, or even a name for a store.

See Also:  Eternal Love | Forever Love

yǒng yuǎn de péng yǒu

永遠的朋友 is exactly what the title suggests. 永遠的朋友 means friends that are eternal or a friendship that will last forever - you will remain the best of friends as long as you live.

The first two characters mean forever, eternal, eternity, perpetuity, immortality, and/or permanence.

The middle character links the words (it's a possessive article).

The last two characters represent friendship, or simply "friends."

ei en ni watashi no kokoro no naka ni

This means, "forever in my heart" or "always in my heart" in Japanese.

The character breakdown:
永遠 (eien) eternity; perpetuity; immortality; permanence.
に (ni) indicates the location of a person or thing.
私の (watashi no) my; mine.
心の中 (kokoro no naka) the middle of one's mind; the midst of one's heart.
に (ni) indicates the location of a person or thing (makes this "in" the middle of one's heart).

Note: There's more than one way to say "Forever in My Heart" in Japanese, so you'll find another version in our database. This is the very verbose version.

Note: Because this selection contains some special Japanese Hiragana characters, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

ei en no ai

The first two characters mean eternal, eternity, perpetuity, forever, immortality, and permanence.

The third character is a possessive article which sort of makes this selection mean "Love, of the eternal kind."

The last character is "love."

Cultural note: Most of the time, it is taboo to use the word "love" in Japanese. For instance, a Japanese man will say, "I like you," rather than, "I love you," to his spouse/girlfriend. However, this entry for eternal love is acceptable because of the way it is composed.

This entry is only appropriate if your audience is Japanese. We also have a Chinese version of this phrase.

hè

gaku / tsuru

학

鶴 is a famous bird of China. Known in China to be a very spiritual creature, the crane is a symbol of both longevity, and the journey of souls and spirits of ancestors.

Note: 鶴 can mean crane or stork in Japanese.

xiān

sento / sen

선

仙 means immortal (as in a being or person).

In some context, it can mean hermit, ascetic, man of the hills, or wizard. The Buddha is often put in this category.

In Chinese mythology and folklore, there is a famous group of eight immortals (八仙).

The 楞嚴經 (Śūraṅgama Sūtra) speaks of many kinds of immortals including walkers on the earth, fliers, wanderers at will (into space or into the deva heavens), beings with the ability to transform themselves into any form, etc.

táo

momo

도

桃 means peach or peaches (Prunus persica) in Chinese, old Korean Hanja, and Japanese Kanji.

In Chinese culture, the peach represents longevity or long life.

This can also be the Japanese surname, Momosaki.

wàn suì

banzai / manzai

만세

We've made two almost identical entries for this word. 萬歲 is the traditional Chinese, Korean Hanja, and ancient Japanese way to write banzai. In modern times, the first character was simplified in Japan and China. So you might want to select the other entry for more universal readability.

While it has become a popular if not an odd thing to scream as you jump out of an airplane (preferably with a parachute attached), banzai is actually a very old Asian way to say "hooray." The Japanese word "banzai" comes from the Chinese word "wan sui" which means "The age of 10,000 years." It is actually a wish that the Emperor or the Empire live that long.

Imagine long ago as the Emperor made a rare public appearance. 萬歲 is what all of the people would yell to their leader in respect.

So if you like is as a hooray, or you want to wish someone that they live for 10,000 years, this is the calligraphy for you.

Other translations include: Cheers! (not the drinking kind), hurrah!, long live [name]!, congratulations!

To other things with banzai in their names; I am still waiting for the promised sequel to Buckaroo Banzai.

Notes: Sometimes people confuse banzai with bonsai. A bonsai is a miniature tree. They have nothing to do with each other. Further, bonzai is not a word at all - although it would make a great name for a calcium supplement for older people.

wàn suì

banzai

만세

We've made two almost identical entries for this word. 萬歲 is the modern Japanese way to write banzai. In the last century, the first character was simplified in Japan and China. The new generation will expect it to be written this way but the old generation can still read the more traditional form. You must make your own determination as to what version is best for you. If your audience is mostly Japanese, I suggest this form.

While it has become a popular if not an odd thing to scream as you jump out of an airplane (preferably with a parachute attached), banzai is actually a very old Asian way to say "hooray." The Japanese word "banzai" comes from the Chinese word "wan sui" which means "The age of 10,000 years." It is actually a wish that the Emperor or the Empire live that long.

Imagine long ago as the Emperor made a rare public appearance. 萬歲 is what all of the people would yell to their leader in respect.

So if you like is as a hooray, or you want to wish someone that they live for 10,000 years, this is the calligraphy for you.

To other things with banzai in their names; I am still waiting for the promised sequel to Buckaroo Banzai.

Other translations: hurrah, long life, congratulations, cheers, live long.

Notes: Sometimes people confuse banzai with bonsai. A bonsai is a miniature tree. They have nothing to do with each other. Further, bonzai is not a word at all - although it would make a great name for a calcium supplement for older people.

sān hún

san tamashi

三魂 is a Daoist / Taoist term, "three immortal souls."

hóng wǔ fú

紅五蝠 is a play on words in Chinese because of some homophones.

The first thing you need to know is that the word for bat, 蝠, sounds exactly like the word for good fortune, 福. Thus, bats are often associated with good luck and good fortune in Chinese culture.

Five bats (五福 / 五蝠) means "five fortunes" referring to luck, prosperity, wealth, happiness, and longevity.

The word red, 红, has the same sound as 宏 meaning vast, great, or magnificent. Therefore, a red bat means "vast fortune."

Altogether, five red bats represent vast reaches of the five fortunes.

tamashii no tomo

魂の友 is one of a few ways to write "Soul Mates" in Japanese.

The first Kanji means soul, spirit, ghost, immortal soul, the mind, or conscious mind. From Sanskrit it's Vijñāna.

The middle character is a Japanese Hiragana connecting or possessive article that links the two ideas together.

The last Kanji means friends or friendship.

wǔ fú lín mén

This literally means, "five good-fortunes arrive [at the] door." It is understood to mean, "may the five blessings descend upon this home."

These blessing are known in ancient China to be: longevity, wealth, health, virtue, and a natural death (living to old age). 五福臨門 is one of several auspicious sayings you might hear during Chinese New Years.

fu rou chou ju

This Japanese phrase means "perpetual youth and longevity." It contains the ideas of never getting old and eternal life.

bù qì bù chóu huó dào bái tóu

This Chinese proverb means, "Without anger or worry, you will have a long life, until after all your hair is white."

It more literally reads, "Don't get angry or worried [and you will] live [long] till [all your] hair [becomes] white."