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未来 (wèi lái) — (noun) the future; (adjective) future, upcoming, approaching

Definition

未来 is the broad, abstract 'the future' (e.g. 未来会更好). 将来 is a near-synonym, slightly more concrete for plans and decisions; 明天 is just 'tomorrow', the very next day.

noun
the future
adjective
futureupcomingapproaching
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 未来。
    Wǒ duì wèi lái chōng mǎn xī wàng.
    I am full of hope for the future.
  • 未来。
    Wǒ men yào zhì dìng wèi lái de jì huà.
    We need to make future plans.
  • 未来。
    Tā xiāng xìn wèi lái huì gèng hǎo.
    He believes the future will be better.

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.

未wèinot yet
来láicome

未 says 'not yet' and 来 says 'come', giving what has not yet come.

Characters in this word

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

The shape 未 shows a tree with extra branches spreading above its trunk, like lush, overlapping limbs.

Open 未 →

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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