来(らい)〜

らい

prefix

next; coming

1. next; coming; the following

A prefix attached to time words to indicate the next occurrence of that time period.

来週(らいしゅう)の月曜日(げつようび)に会(あ)いましょう。

Let's meet next Monday.

来年(らいねん)は日本(にほん)に行(い)きたい。

I want to go to Japan next year.

来月(らいげつ)から新(あたら)しい仕事(しごと)が始(はじ)まる。

A new job starts from next month.

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

来週(らいしゅう) (next week)
来月(らいげつ) (next month)
来年(らいねん) (next year)
来学期(らいがっき) (next semester)
来春(らいしゅん)/来春(らいはる) (next spring)
来日(らいにち) (coming to Japan - special meaning)

SPECIAL USAGE: 来日(らいにち) means 'coming to Japan' (visiting Japan), not 'next day' (which is 翌日(よくじつ) or 明日(あした)).

CONTRAST:

来(らい)〜 (next) vs 今(こん)〜 (this) vs 先(せん)〜 (last/previous)
来週(らいしゅう) ↔ 今週(こんしゅう) ↔ 先週(せんしゅう)

Related Words

Antonym: 先(せん)〜 (last/previous)

Contrast: 今(こん)〜 (this/current)

general

Added 2026.1.13 19:53 · Revised 2026.5.11 5:13

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