jiānglái: 将来 - The Future, In the future

• Keywords: jianglai, 将来, future in Chinese, how to say future in Chinese, jianglai vs yihou, jianglai vs weilai, Chinese grammar future, learn Chinese, HSK 3
• Summary: Learn how to say “the future” in Chinese with 将来 (jiānglái). This essential HSK 3 term is used to talk about your personal future, career plans, and long-term hopes. This guide breaks down the meaning of 将来 (jiānglái), how it differs from similar words like 以后 (yǐhòu) and 未来 (wèilái), and provides 10+ practical example sentences to help you master its usage in everyday conversation.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiānglái
• Part of Speech: Noun (Time Word)
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: The future; in the future; the time that is to come.
• In a Nutshell: 将来 (jiānglái) is your go-to word for “the future” in most everyday contexts. It refers to the time ahead, often with a personal connection—think about your future career, your future family, or your plans for the coming years. It feels more concrete and foreseeable than a sci-fi, distant future.

• 将 (jiāng): This character can mean “will” or “about to.” It originally depicted a general leading his troops, which gives it a sense of leading into the next action or state.
• 来 (lái): This character simply means “to come” or “to arrive.” It's a pictogram of a wheat plant, signifying a harvest that is coming.
• Together, 将来 (jiānglái) literally means “what is about to come.” This perfectly captures the essence of the future as an approaching period of time.

In Chinese culture, there is a strong emphasis on long-term planning and foresight, whether for education, career, or family. The term 将来 (jiānglái) is central to these discussions. It embodies a pragmatic and often hopeful view of the future—one that can be shaped by hard work and good decisions in the present. This contrasts slightly with the Western concept of “the future,” which can sometimes be more abstract or fantastical. While an English speaker might use “the future” to talk about flying cars, a Chinese speaker would more likely use the grander term 未来 (wèilái). 将来 (jiānglái) is more grounded and personal. It's the word parents use when telling their child to study hard for a “good future” (好将来), or what young people use when discussing their dreams and aspirations. It reflects a cultural value of looking ahead, not just with abstract hope, but with a concrete plan.

将来 (jiānglái) is an extremely common word used across all registers of speech, from casual chats to more formal discussions about business or personal goals.

• In Conversation: It's frequently used to ask about someone's plans or dreams. “What do you want to do in the future?” (你将来想做什么？) is a classic conversation starter.
• In Planning: When discussing plans for life, work, or family, 将来 is the natural choice. It sets a timeframe that is not immediate, but is still connected to the present.
• Connotation: The connotation is generally neutral to positive. It's a forward-looking word that carries a sense of potential and possibility.

• Example 1:
  • 你将来想做什么工作？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ jiānglái xiǎng zuò shénme gōngzuò?
  • English: What job do you want to have in the future?
  • Analysis: A very common and natural question to ask a student or young person about their career aspirations.
• Example 2:
  • 我希望将来能在中国生活。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xīwàng jiānglái néng zài Zhōngguó shēnghuó.
  • English: I hope I can live in China in the future.
  • Analysis: Here, 将来 expresses a long-term personal hope or dream.
• Example 3:
  • 现在好好学习，将来才能找到好工作。
  • Pinyin: Xiànzài hǎohǎo xuéxí, jiānglái cáinéng zhǎodào hǎo gōngzuò.
  • English: Study hard now, only then can you find a good job in the future.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example of advice given by parents or teachers, linking present actions to future outcomes.
• Example 4:
  • 将来的事情，谁也说不准。
  • Pinyin: Jiānglái de shìqing, shéi yě shuō bu zhǔn.
  • English: As for future matters, nobody can say for sure.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows a more philosophical use of 将来, acknowledging the uncertainty of the future.
• Example 5:
  • 我们公司将来的发展会越来越好。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī jiānglái de fāzhǎn huì yuèláiyuè hǎo.
  • English: Our company's future development will get better and better.
  • Analysis: Used in a business context to talk about the company's long-term prospects.
• Example 6:
  • 他将来会成为一名伟大的科学家。
  • Pinyin: Tā jiānglái huì chéngwéi yī míng wěidà de kēxuéjiā.
  • English: He will become a great scientist in the future.
  • Analysis: Expressing a prediction or strong belief about someone's life path.
• Example 7:
  • 我将来打算买一套房子。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ jiānglái dǎsuàn mǎi yī tào fángzi.
  • English: I plan to buy a house in the future.
  • Analysis: A perfect example of using 将来 for a major life plan.
• Example 8:
  • 将来有一天，机器人可能会做所有的家务。
  • Pinyin: Jiānglái yǒu yī tiān, jīqìrén kěnéng huì zuò suǒyǒu de jiāwù.
  • English: Someday in the future, robots might do all the housework.
  • Analysis: While often personal, 将来 can also be used for general future predictions like this.
• Example 9:
  • 为了我们美好的将来，我们一起努力吧！
  • Pinyin: Wèile wǒmen měihǎo de jiānglái, wǒmen yīqǐ nǔlì ba!
  • English: For the sake of our wonderful future, let's work hard together!
  • Analysis: A motivational phrase often used between partners, colleagues, or teammates.
• Example 10:
  • 不要总想着将来，要活在当下。
  • Pinyin: Bùyào zǒng xiǎngzhe jiānglái, yào huó zài dāngxià.
  • English: Don't always be thinking about the future, you should live in the present moment.
  • Analysis: This shows 将来 used in contrast with “the present” (当下 dāngxià).

The biggest challenge for learners is distinguishing 将来 from two other words that also mean “future”: 以后 (yǐhòu) and 未来 (wèilái).

• 将来 (jiānglái): The personal, foreseeable future. A continuous period of time starting from now. Best for life plans, career goals, and personal aspirations.
  • Correct: 我将来想当老师。(Wǒ jiānglái xiǎng dāng lǎoshī.) - I want to be a teacher in the future.
• 以后 (yǐhòu): “After,” “later,” “from now on.” It marks the time *after* a specific point. It can be very near or very far. It's more of a simple time marker.
  • Correct: 我们吃完饭以后去看电影。(Wǒmen chīwán fàn yǐhòu qù kàn diànyǐng.) - We'll go see a movie *after* we finish eating.
  • Mistake: `我们吃完饭将来去看电影。` This is wrong because 将来 refers to a general future, not the time immediately following a specific action.
• 未来 (wèilái): The distant, abstract, or grand-scale future. Think “future technology,” “the future of humanity,” or a company's vision statement. It's more formal and impersonal.
  • Correct: 未来的世界会是什么样子？(Wèilái de shìjiè huì shì shénme yàngzi?) - What will the world of the future be like?
  • Mistake: `你未来想做什么工作？` While not strictly incorrect, it sounds overly formal and dramatic. 将来 is much more natural for this personal question.

Rule of Thumb: If you're talking about your personal life plans, use 将来. If you're talking about what happens “after” something else, use 以后. If you're talking about the distant, sci-fi, or societal future, use 未来.

• 未来 (wèilái) - A related term for the more distant, abstract, or grand-scale “future.”
• 以后 (yǐhòu) - A time word meaning “after” or “later,” often confused with 将来.
• 前途 (qiántú) - “Future prospects,” especially concerning one's career or potential for success. It's more specific than 将来.
• 过去 (guòqù) - The direct antonym of 将来; “the past.”
• 打算 (dǎsuàn) - A verb meaning “to plan,” often used in sentences with 将来. (e.g., 我将来打算…)
• 希望 (xīwàng) - A verb meaning “to hope,” which is often directed toward the 将来.
• 梦想 (mèngxiǎng) - “Dream” or “aspiration,” something one wants to achieve in the 将来.
• 当时 (dāngshí) - “At that time (in the past).” An antonym related to a specific past moment.
• 现在 (xiànzài) - “Now,” “the present.” Often used in contrast with 将来 and 过去.