when forever means five years

The phrase "when forever means five years" is often used in a poetic or dramatic sense to express that what people may expect to be forever or permanent actually lasts only a limited time, such as five years. This can be seen as expressing a qualified or conditional sense of "forever," rather than an absolute or literal meaning. For example, in some biblical or literary contexts, "forever" is interpreted as a long duration with a purpose rather than infinite time—such as a dynasty lasting about 500 years. Likewise, in drama or storytelling, "forever" can symbolize a significant but ultimately finite period of time, like a relationship or loyalty that only lasts five years before changing or ending. Specifically, there is a recent Chinese drama titled "When Forever Only Means Five Years," which tells a story of loyalty and betrayal in the span of five years, illustrating the emotional weight of "forever" being just five years in human terms. Thus, "forever" can mean a very long time, but depending on context, it can be understood as a limited period such as five years, symbolizing a meaningful but not indefinite duration.