Dictionary — Entry No. 0625
영원
yeongwon · noun
영원
yeongwon
[yuhng-WON]
nounbeginner
Meaning
Means ‘eternity’ or ‘forever’ — the state of existing without end. As a noun it stands alone (영원이에요, it is eternity), but it most commonly pairs with the adverb suffix -히 to form 영원히 (yeongwonhi, eternally/forever), the form fans encounter most in song lyrics.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
영원 is the emotional core of countless K-Pop love pledges and K-Drama vows. EXO’s ‘For Life’ turned the concept into a solemn promise between the group and their fandom EXO-L, and the word has since become inseparable from idol culture’s language of loyalty. ‘Hotel Del Luna’ builds its entire supernatural premise around the question of whether 영원 is a gift or a curse.
Example Sentences
우리 영원히 함께야.
Uri yeongwonhi hamkkeya.
We’ll be together forever. — a declaration of undying love or friendship; archetypal in drama confession scenes and fan meeting speeches
이 순간이 영원했으면 해.
I sungani yeongwonhaesseumyeon hae.
I wish this moment could last forever. — the lyrical form, expressing joy so perfect it feels wrong that it must end
영원은 없어.
Yeongwoneun eopseo.
There’s no such thing as forever. — a cynical or resigned line used as a painful counterpoint in bittersweet drama narratives
⚠️ Don’t use yeongwon when…
Mistake 1: Using the noun 영원 where the adverb 영원히 is grammatically needed — ‘우리 영원 함께’ sounds unnatural; the correct form is ‘우리 영원히 함께.’ Mistake 2: Treating 영원히 and 항상 (always/at all times) as synonyms — 항상 describes a recurring state, while 영원히 means without end for all time, a different and more absolute temporal scope.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Hotel Del Luna — the immortal hotel owner Jang Man-wol’s arc is literally built around whether 영원 can coexist with love, making every use of the word feel like both a promise and a threat.
- K-Pop: EXO — For Life
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.