Japanese symbol for “prospects”
将来
しょうらい
Romaji: shourai
future; (future) prospects
In Japanese, prospects is 将来, read しょうらい (shourai).
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
- adv, n future; (future) prospects
- n, vs, vt bringing (from abroad, another region, etc.)
- n, vs, vt bringing about; giving rise to; causing; incurring
Written forms: 将来、將來. Readings: しょうらい.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “prospects”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 希望 | きぼう kibou | (bright) prospects; expectation |
| 前途 | ぜんと zento | future; prospects; outlook |
| 形勢 | けいせい keisei | condition; situation; prospects |
| 行く末 | ゆくすえ yukusue | one's future; one's fate; prospects |
| 当て | あて ate | expectations; prospects; hopes |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 将軍 | しょうぐん shougun | general |
| 将棋 | しょうぎ shougi | shogi; Japanese chess |
| 大将 | たいしょう taishou | general; admiral |
| 将校 | しょうこう shoukou | commissioned officer; military officer |
| 武将 | ぶしょう bushou | military commander |
| 未来 | みらい mirai | (distant) future |
| 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 |
See also: Chinese symbol for “prospects”.
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.