Japanese word

未来

Pronunciation

Romajimirai

Meaning

  • nounfuture

Example

私は未来について考えます。watashi wa mi rai ni tsu i te kanga e ma su

I think about the future.

Illustration for 未来 (future)

More examples

未来のことを考えます。mi rai no ko to o kanga e ma su

I think about the future.

明るい未来を信じています。aka ru i mi rai o shin ji te i ma su

I believe in a bright future.

Core concept

Refers to what is still ahead, from the next moment to a distant time and its possible events.

Common phrases

  • 未来について話すmi rai ni tsu i te hana su

    talk about the future

  • 未来の計画mi rai no kei kaku

    plans for the future

  • 未来を変えるmi rai o ka e ru

    change the future

Similar words

将来shōrai: The time and events ahead in a person's life or in society.

Definition in Japanese

これから先に訪れる時間や、その時に起こる事柄。ko re ka ra saki ni otozu re ru ji kan ya so no toki ni o ko ru koto gara

Word origin

未来 (mirai) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 未 (mi, "not yet") and 来 (rai, "come"), describing what has yet to arrive.

Usage tips

  • English future can correspond to both 将来 (shōrai) and 未来 (mirai), but 将来 is common when discussing a person's plans or life ahead.

Opposites

Related words

  • 未来的miraitekifuturisticna-adjective

Word lists with this word