恒

Constancy, steadfastness, and persistence. The glyph denotes a state of being that resists fluctuation or wavering; it implies an active endurance or stability maintained over time rather than simple permanence. This range extends from psychological/moral resolve (discipline and willpower) to cosmic/abstract stability (a fundamental lack of volatility in the Dao or heavens).

Primarily functions as an adjective ("constant") or a noun ("constancy"). It can also function as a modifier of manner, describing an action performed persistently or without wavering.

• 恒 vs. 久 (jiǔ): //久// refers to temporal length and duration; //恒// refers to the quality of remaining unchanged during that time.
• 恒 vs. 常 (cháng): //常// typically denotes regularity, habit, or universal law; //恒// more often describes an internal or inherent quality, such as steadfastness of will or the unchanging nature of a specific principle.

The forms 恒, 恆 (U+6046), and U+6052 are functional equivalents. Differences between these variants are generally scribal or regional rather than semantic.

The presence of the heart radical (忄) associates the glyph with internal states, such as discipline and perseverance.

In texts dealing with transformation (such as the //I Ching//), 恒 serves as the pole of steadfastness against 變 (change). The translator should determine if the context praises this constancy or critiques an insistence on it within a shifting environment.