JLPT N3・N4 Vocabulary – Difference between “将来” and “未来”

Table of Contents

1. Difference between “将来”しょうらいand “未来みらい“
2. 将来しょうらい
3. 未来みらい
4. Summary
5. Quiz
6. Similar Articles
7. Comment

Q: What is the difference between “将来しょうらい“and “未来みらい“?

A: Both refer to “future time,” but there are differences in usage and nuance. Broadly speaking, “将来しょうらい” is subjective, while “未来みらい” is objective.

将来しょうらい (JLPT N4)

A subjective and concrete timeline.
It indicates a time not too far from the present, a time that will surely come, and is often used in the following contexts:

① Referring to personal life matters

[Examples]
将来しょうらいの夢ゆめはサッカー選手せんしゅです。
My future dream is to become a soccer player.

卒業そつぎょうをしたら将来しょうらいはパティシエになりたいです。
After I graduate, I want to become a pastry chef in the future.
⇒ When talking about dreams, it refers to several decades or years ahead, which is not too far from the present, making “将来しょうらい” an appropriate word.

②Talking about future events or plans on a predictable timeline

[Examples]
彼女かのじょと将来しょうらいどうするか考かんがえています。
I’m thinking about what to do with her in the future.

将来しょうらいはここに大おおきなビルができます。
In the future, a big building will be built here.
⇒Both examples indicate a time relatively close to the present, based on the present as a reference point.

未来みらい (JLPT N3)

When dividing the flow of time into three, we have the “past,” “present,” and then what lies beyond, which is the “future.”
This represents an objective and long-term timeline, indicating abstract time that is yet to come.

①When discussing matters related to society as a whole, philosophical topics, or large-scale matters

[Examples]
未来みらいの地球ちきゅうを見みてみたいです。
I want to see the Earth in the future.

人類じんるいの未来みらいはどうなるのでしょう。
What will the future of humanity be like?
⇒ This refers to an objective, far-off point in time.

②When talking about unknown and unpredictable things

[Examples]
未来みらいから現在げんざいに人ひとが来きたらどうする？
What would you do if someone came from the future to the present?

未来みらいの地球ちきゅうはどのようになるのでしょう。
I wonder what the Earth will be like in the future.
⇒ These are abstract topics that no one can predict.

Summary

[将来しょうらい]

• A subjective and concrete timeline.
• It is used to refer to “personal life” or “predictable future events and plans.”

[未来みらい]

• An objective and long-term timeline.
• It is used to refer to “matters concerning society as a whole, philosophical topics, or large-scale issues” as well as “unpredictable and unknown matters.”

Quiz

Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.

Click on the question to check the answer.

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