天长地久

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: tiān cháng dì jiǔ
• English Translation: As eternal as heaven and earth (everlasting love)
• Idiom Composition: 「天」（Heaven or sky）＋「长」（Long-lasting or enduring）＋「地」（Earth or ground）＋「久」（A long duration of time）
• Meaning: A phrase describing something that lasts as long as the universe itself. While it literally refers to the permanence of the sky and the earth, it is most commonly used today to describe **eternal love** or **everlasting friendship** that never fades over time.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「天长地久」 contains the following nuances:

• Emphasis on Eternity: By comparing human emotions to the unchanging nature of the universe, the idiom conveys a sense of permanence that transcends a single human lifetime.
• Unchanging Relationships: It is most powerful when used to promise that a bond—whether romantic or platonic—will never fade or change despite the passage of time.

3. Usage

「天长地久」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Romantic Vows: Used to express undying love during confessions or wedding ceremonies. It is a romantic and high-register expression.
  • Example:「不管未来发生什么，我对你的爱都会天长地久。」
    （No matter what happens in the future, my love for you will be as eternal as heaven and earth.）
• Friendship and Diplomacy: Used in speeches or messages to wish for lasting bonds between friends or even nations.
  • Example:「愿我们两国的友谊天长地久，世代相传。」
    （May the friendship between our two countries last forever and be passed down through generations.）

Additional Examples:

1. 虽然我们相隔两地，但我们的心意天长地久。
   （Though we are far apart, our feelings for each other remain everlasting.）
2. 这枚钻戒象征着他们天长地久的爱情。
   （This diamond ring symbolizes their eternal love.）
3. 世上没有天长地久的宴席，但美好的回忆会永远留在心中。
   （While there is no such thing as an everlasting banquet in this world, beautiful memories will stay in our hearts forever.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• The phrase appears in Chapter 7 of the Tao Te Ching (道德经) by Laozi (老子). Originally, it described how heaven and earth endure because they do not exist for themselves, illustrating the virtue of selflessness.
• It was famously used by the Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi (白居易) in his masterpiece, the Song of Everlasting Regret (长恨歌). He wrote that even if heaven and earth were to end, the sorrow of the lovers would remain. This literary connection cemented the idiom's association with deep, tragic, or eternal love.
• In modern pop culture, the phrase is a staple of romantic songs and movies. For example, it appears in the lyrics of hits by singers like Jacky Cheung (张学友), reinforcing its status as the ultimate expression of 'forever.'

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 海枯石烂 (hǎi kū shí làn): Until the seas dry up and the rocks decay; a vow of eternal love.
  • 地老天荒 (dì lǎo tiān huāng): Until the earth grows old and the heavens turn to wilderness; meaning for a very long time.
  • 万古长青 (wàn gǔ liú fāng): To last forever; to be immortal.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 昙花一现 (tán huā yí xiàn): A flash in the pan; something that appears briefly and vanishes quickly like the night-blooming cereus.
  • 稍纵即逝 (shāo zòng jí shì): Fleeting; something that disappears if not grasped immediately.
  • 好景不长 (hǎo jǐng bù cháng): Good times do not last long.link

6. Summary

天长地久 (tiān cháng dì jiǔ) is a classic idiom used to express the concept of eternity. Originating from the philosophical texts of Laozi (老子) and later immortalized in the poetry of Bai Juyi (白居易), it has evolved from a philosophical observation about nature into a romantic vow. In modern Chinese, it is the standard expression for 'forever and ever,' frequently appearing in wedding vows, love letters, and toasts to enduring friendship.