Meaning of 未来
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- future
- tomorrow
- approaching
- coming
- pending
Measure word: 個|个
How to use 未来
未来 works as a noun for "the future" and also as a modifier meaning "coming" or "next", often before a time span. Example: 未来三天会下雨。(Wèilái sān tiān huì xià yǔ.) It will rain in the next three days.
未 (wèi) means "not yet" and 来 (lái) means "come", so 未来 is the time that has not yet come. Think of it as everything still on its way to you.
Common mistake: Learners often write 末 (mò, end) instead of 未 (wèi). In 未 the top horizontal stroke is shorter than the lower one, while in 末 the top stroke is longer.
未来 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
未 wèi · not yet · 5 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
来 lái · to come · 7 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
Related words
Words that share a character with 未来.
| 回来 | huílái | to return; to come back |
| 起来 | qǐlái | to stand up; to get up; also pr. [qi3lai2] |
| 出来 | chūlái | to come out; to appear |
| 进来 | jìnlái | to come in |
| 来到 | láidào | to arrive; to come |
| 过来 | guòlái | to come over; to manage |
| 带来 | dàilái | to bring; (fig.) to bring about; to produce |
| 来自 | láizì | to come from (a place); From: (in email header) |
| 原来 | yuánlái | original; former; originally; formerly; at first |
| 后来 | hòulái | afterwards; later; newly arrived |
| 接下来 | jiē xiàlái | to accept; to take |
| 越来越 | yuè lái yuè | more and more |
Questions about 未来
What does 未来 mean?
未来 (wèilái) means "future; tomorrow" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 未来?
未来 is made of 2 characters: 未 (5 strokes), 来 (7 strokes). That is 12 strokes in total.
Is 未来 an HSK word?
Yes. 未来 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 未来 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 未来 is written 未來.
What is the difference between 未来 and 将来?
Both mean "future". 将来 (jiānglái) is more everyday and personal, as in 我将来想当医生 (I want to be a doctor in the future). 未来 sounds a bit more formal or grand, and it is the usual choice in phrases like 未来三天 (the next three days) or 美好的未来 (a bright future).
Can 未来 describe a person, like a future husband?
Yes. Put it before a noun with or without 的, as in 未来的老公 (wèilái de lǎogōng), my future husband. This pattern is common in casual speech.