未来

wèi lái

future

HSK 5

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"未来" (wèilái) means "future," referring to the time or period that is yet to come. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to talk about upcoming events, developments, or time frames.

Common Collocations

  • 未来计划 (wèilái jìhuà): future plans, used when discussing intentions or goals.
  • 未来发展 (wèilái fāzhǎn): future development, often in business or technology contexts.
  • 未来趋势 (wèilái qūshì): future trend, used in forecasting or analysis.

Usage Notes

"未来" is often paired with verbs like "准备" (prepare well), "充满信心" (be full of confidence), or "改变" (change) to express attitudes or actions related to what is coming. It is a noun and can function as the subject or object in sentences.

Common Confusion

Do not confuse "未来" with "将来" (jiānglái), which also means future but often implies a more immediate or personal future, while "未来" can be broader or more abstract. "未来" tends to be used in more formal or written contexts.

Example Sentences

我们应该为未来做好准备。

Wǒmen yīnggāi wèi wèilái zuò hǎo zhǔnbèi.

We should prepare well for the future.

未来的科技会改变我们的生活方式。

Wèilái de kējì huì gǎibiàn wǒmen de shēnghuó fāngshì.

Future technology will change our way of life.

他对未来充满了信心。

Tā duì wèilái chōngmǎnle xìnxīn.

He is full of confidence about the future.