将来 (jiānglái)

将来 means "the future" or "in the future." It refers to an unspecified future time that is more distant or open-ended than 以后 (after a specific event). 将来 is often used when talking about life goals, dreams, or general prospects.

Meanings

[noun] The future — the time ahead, used as a subject or object.
[adverb] In the future; someday — placed before the verb to indicate a future time frame.

Compare 将来 vs 以后

Word	Usage
将来	Open-ended future; life plans, hopes, dreams
以后	After a specific point in time (e.g., 毕业以后 after graduation)

Example Sentences

你将来想做什么工作？ Nǐ jiānglái xiǎng zuò shénme gōngzuò? What kind of work do you want to do in the future?

将来的事谁也说不准。 Jiānglái de shì shuí yě shuō bu zhǔn. No one can say for certain what the future holds.

她希望将来能环游世界。 Tā xīwàng jiānglái néng huán yóu shìjiè. She hopes to travel around the world someday.

努力学习是为了将来有更好的机会。 Nǔlì xuéxí shì wèile jiānglái yǒu gèng hǎo de jīhuì. Studying hard is so that you will have better opportunities in the future.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
将来的目标	future goals
将来的发展	future development
对将来充满希望	full of hope for the future
为将来做准备	prepare for the future
将来有一天	one day in the future; someday

Memory Hook

将 suggests "about to / going forward" (like a general advancing). 来 means "to come." The future is what is coming forward toward you — 将来.