King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Japanese symbol for “future”

Romaji: mirai
(distant) future

In Japanese, future is , read (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

  1. n (distant) future
  2. n future existence; world beyond the grave; the world to come (Buddh)
  3. n future (tense) (gramm)

Kanji and stroke order

un-, not yet, hitherto
on: ミ、ビ
kun: いま.だ、ま.だ、ひつじ
5 strokes · JLPT 2
come, due, next
on: ライ、タイ
kun: く.る、きた.る、きた.す、き.たす
7 strokes · JLPT 4

Other Japanese words for “future”

WordReadingMeaning
しょうらい shouraifuture; (future) prospects
ぜんと zentofuture; prospects; outlook
さきゆき sakiyukithe future; future prospects
すえ suefuture
あとあと atoatofuture; distant future

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

WordReadingMeaning
みすい misuifailed attempt (at a crime, suicide, etc.)
みてい miteinot yet fixed; undecided; pending
みせいねん miseinenminority (i.e. being under age); minor; underage person
みち michinot yet known; unknown; strange
みまん mimanless than; under; below
できる dekiruto be able to do; to be possible; to be permitted (to do)
いらい iraisince; henceforth
しょうらい shouraifuture; (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.

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