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将来 (jiāng lái) — future

Definition

A general word for 'the future,' often used before nouns (将来的计划) or in formal/written contexts. More written than 以后; 未来 emphasizes the abstract time ahead, while 将来 is used for specific future plans.

noun
future
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 将来？
    jiāng lái Nǐ huì qù nǎ lǐ gōng zuò?
    Where will you work in the future?
  • 。
    Wǒ jiāng lái de jì huà shì xué hǎo hàn yǔ.
    My future plan is to learn Chinese well.
  • 将来。
    Wǒ men yào wèi jiāng lái zuò hǎo zhǔn bèi.
    We need to be well prepared for the future.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

将jiāngabout to
来láicome

将 'about to' and 来 'come' together point to the time ahead.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 將; 将 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺼Written in full as肉ròumeat
寸寸cùnhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
爿
爿pán將jiāng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 將 combines 爿, which also supplies a sound and may show a small table, with ⺼ (meat) and 寸 (hand) to picture offering meat as tribute. The simplified 将 is a later shorthand.

Open 将 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 來; 来 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 來 shows a wheat plant: a central ear, upward leaves, and downward stem and roots. The simplified 来 is a later shorthand.

Open 来 →
Appears in
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