Japanese symbol for “future”
未来
みらい
Romaji: mirai
(distant) future
In Japanese, future is 未来, read みらい (mirai).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- n (distant) future
- n future existence; world beyond the grave; the world to come (Buddh)
- n future (tense) (gramm)
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “future”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 将来 | しょうらい shourai | future; (future) prospects |
| 前途 | ぜんと zento | future; prospects; outlook |
| 先行き | さきゆき sakiyuki | the future; future prospects |
| 末 | すえ sue | future |
| 後々 | あとあと atoato | future; distant future |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 未遂 | みすい misui | failed attempt (at a crime, suicide, etc.) |
| 未定 | みてい mitei | not yet fixed; undecided; pending |
| 未成年 | みせいねん miseinen | minority (i.e. being under age); minor; underage person |
| 未知 | みち michi | not yet known; unknown; strange |
| 未満 | みまん miman | less than; under; below |
| 出来る | できる dekiru | to be able to do; to be possible; to be permitted (to do) |
| 以来 | いらい irai | since; henceforth |
| 将来 | しょうらい shourai | future; (future) prospects |
See also: Chinese symbol for “future”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.