天长地久
tiān cháng dì jiǔ
everlasting; as long as heaven and earth
Character by character
天tiān
heaven
heaven
长cháng
long
long
地dì
earth
earth
久jiǔ
lasting
lasting
Example
婚礼上，大家祝新郎新娘的爱情天长地久。
At the wedding everyone wished the bride and groom a love that would last for ever.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
From the 道德经 (天长地久), where it describes heaven and earth; now a wish for lasting love or friendship, common on wedding cards and in love songs. 白居易 turned it round: 天长地久有时尽 “even heaven and earth will one day end”.
Learn this in Lesson 41 · HSK 5–6: 元宵、七夕与重阳 (The smaller festivals)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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