Meaning and Usage
The word '영원' means 'eternity' or 'forever' and is often used to express something lasting indefinitely without end. It is a noun and commonly appears in poetic, romantic, or solemn contexts.
Common Collocations
- 영원한 사랑 (eternal love): Used to express love that lasts forever.
- 영원히 기억하다 (to remember forever): Used when promising to never forget someone or something.
- 영원할 거예요 (will last forever): A common phrase to express lasting relationships or feelings.
Register and Nuance
'영원' is generally formal or literary and is often found in written language, speeches, or serious conversations. It conveys a strong emotional or philosophical sense of permanence.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '영원' with '영원히', the adverb form meaning 'forever'. Remember, '영원' is a noun, so it needs appropriate particles or verbs to form sentences, while '영원히' modifies verbs directly.
Use '영원' when emphasizing the concept of eternity itself, and '영원히' when describing how an action is performed indefinitely.