eternal
eternal — 形容詞
1. An eternal thing never comes to an end — it has always existed and will always e
永恆的
永遠存在、沒有終點的
An eternal thing never comes to an end — it has always existed and will always exist, with no final moment of stopping or being destroyed.
The Buddhist monks believed in an eternal cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
佛教僧侶相信生死與重生是永恆的循環。
collocation: eternal cycle
During their quiet ceremony, João promised his wife eternal love and devotion.
在寧靜的婚禮上，João 向妻子承諾永恆的愛與忠誠。
To someone watching from a hilltop, the flow of the river can seem eternal.
對站在山丘上的人來說，河水的流動彷彿是永恆的。
Many ancient cultures searched for a way to achieve eternal youth through magic or ritual.
許多古老文化透過魔法或儀式尋找永葆青春的方法。
Trang believes that the human soul is eternal and survives the death of the body.
Trang 相信人類的靈魂是永恆的，不會隨著身體死亡而消逝。
- everlasting
Very close in meaning but slightly less formal; 'everlasting' emphasises continuing without stopping, while 'eternal' emphasises having no beginning or end.
- perpetual
More formal; suggests something that continues without interruption, often in a legal or institutional context (e.g. 'perpetual contract').
- timeless
Focuses on not being affected by time at all — used for art, beauty, or ideas that stay relevant across eras.
文法句型
eternal + noun
be + eternal
用法筆記
Sometimes used in religious or philosophical writing alongside near-synonyms like 'everlasting' or 'immortal'. In everyday speech, 'eternal' tends to carry more weight and finality than 'everlasting'.
常見錯誤
2. You describe something as eternal when it feels as if it will never finish, espe
沒完沒了
令人厭煩地持續不斷的
You describe something as eternal when it feels as if it will never finish, especially because it is boring, annoying, or repeated too many times.
Takeshi grew tired of his neighbour's eternal complaints about the garden fence.
Takeshi 對鄰居無止盡的抱怨花園圍牆感到厭煩。
collocation: eternal complaints
Hannah watched the clock during what felt like an eternal wait at the dentist's office.
Hannah 在牙醫診所看著時鐘，感覺等待永無止盡。
pattern: an eternal wait
The bus ride across the empty desert seemed eternal to the sleepy children.
在空曠沙漠中行駛的公車，對昏昏欲睡的孩子們來說彷彿永無止境。
Eli's eternal questions about the plan began to wear down the whole team.
Eli 對計畫的每個細節無休止地提問，讓整個團隊開始感到疲憊。
Hassan and Noor thought the flight delays were eternal, stretching well into the early morning.
Hassan 和 Noor 以為班機延誤會沒完沒了，一路拖到凌晨。
- endless
The most natural synonym for this sense; 'endless wait' sounds more neutral, while 'eternal wait' adds dramatic frustration.
- never-ending
Informal and conversational; used the same way as 'eternal' in this sense.
- incessant
More formal; describes something that continues without pause, especially an unpleasant noise or activity.
文法句型
eternal + noun (complaint/wait/argument)
be + eternal
用法筆記
This sense is almost always a slight exaggeration — the wait or repetition is not truly endless, but feels that way to the speaker. Common with nouns of annoyance (complaints, questions, delays) and often in informal speech.
常見錯誤
eternal — 名詞
1. In religious language, the Eternal is a name for the divine being who has no beg
永恆者
無始無終的造物主
In religious language, the Eternal is a name for the divine being who has no beginning or end and exists completely beyond the limits of time.
Beatrix prayed to the Eternal for patience during her long recovery from surgery.
Beatrix 在漫長的康復期間向永恆者祈禱，祈求耐心。
capitalized as proper noun: the Eternal
The pastor spoke of the Eternal as a source of infinite mercy and justice.
牧師談到永恆者是無限慈悲與正義的來源。
Élise found comfort in the belief that the Eternal guided her through every hardship.
Élise 相信永恆者會引導她度過每一個難關，並從中獲得安慰。
The ancient hymn praised the Eternal as the maker of all life and light.
這首古老的讚美詩歌頌永恆者為所有生命與光的創造者。
- God
The general term for the supreme being; 'the Eternal' is a narrower, more poetic title focusing on timelessness.
- the Almighty
Another reverential title that emphasises power rather than timelessness.
文法句型
the Eternal
用法筆記
Always used with 'the' and typically capitalized. Found in formal religious writing, hymns, and prayers rather than everyday conversation. Not interchangeable with 'God' in all contexts — 'the Eternal' emphasises God's timeless nature specifically.
2. An eternal is a thing, idea, or principle that never fades, decays, or disappear
永恆的事物
永遠不消亡的東西
An eternal is a thing, idea, or principle that never fades, decays, or disappears — it exists permanently outside the reach of time and change.
The philosopher argued that mathematical truths are eternals whether anyone thinks about them or not.
那位哲學家主張數學真理是永恆的存在，無論有沒有人思考它。
plural form: eternals
Vivek studied ancient Greek ideas about the eternals that shape the physical world.
Vivek 研究了古希臘關於塑造物質世界的永恆理型。
Owen argued that justice is an eternal that no government can destroy.
Owen 主張正義是一種永恆的存在，沒有任何政府能夠摧毀它。
Tanvi studied Plato's theory that perfect forms are eternals beyond the reach of decay.
Tanvi 研究了柏拉圖的理論，認為完美的理型是超越腐朽的永恆之物。
- permanent
As a noun ('the permanent'), refers to things that last indefinitely, but more concrete than 'eternal'.
文法句型
the eternal(s)
用法筆記
Very rare outside of philosophy or theology. When it appears, it is typically in the plural ('eternals') referring to abstract truths or ideal forms that cannot be destroyed.