来
come · due · next · cause · become
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Appearance of wheat ears ripening. Crop that came from afar.
Symbolism
Arrival, future, visit. 'Coming' represents flow of time and possibility.
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
古往今来
こおうこんらい
in all ages; since antiquity; in all ages
先祖伝来
せんぞでんらい
inherited; family (heirloom); ancestral; inherited
千客万来
せんきゃくばんらい
flood of customers; roaring business; flood of customers
故事来歴
こじらいれき
origin and history; particulars; origin and history
祖先伝来
そせんでんらい
hereditary; hereditary
未来永劫
みらいえいごう
forevermore; for eternity; forevermore
一陽来復
いちようらいふく
return of spring; long-awaited, favorable turn of fortune (favourable); return of spring
好機到来
こうきとうらい
advent of a golden opportunity; advent of a golden opportunity
捲土重来
けんどちょうらい
recouping one's strength for a renewed attack; making another attempt with redoubled efforts; recouping one's strength for a renewed attack
開闢以来
かいびゃくいらい
since the beginning of the world; since the dawn of history; since the beginning of the world
時機到来
じきとうらい
a good chance coming along; the time has come (for, to, when ...); opportunity knocking; a good chance coming along
時節到来
じせつとうらい
the time has come (for, to, when ...); the time being ripe (for); the time has come (for, to, when ...)
父祖伝来
ふそでんらい
hereditary; patrimonial; handed down from generation to generation; hereditary
往古来今
おうこらいこん
in all ages; since antiquity; in all ages
Poetry
春すぎて 夏来にけらし 白妙の 衣ほすてふ 天の香具山
Poem #2 from Hyakunin Isshu
立ち別れ いなばの山の 峰に生ふる まつとし聞かば 今帰り来む
Poem #16 from Hyakunin Isshu
八重むぐら しげれる宿の さびしきに 人こそ見えね 秋は来にけり
Poem #47 from Hyakunin Isshu
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 来 mean in Japanese?
来 means come, due, next, cause, become.
How do you read 来?
On'yomi: ライ、タイ (RAI, TAI). Kun'yomi: く.る、きた.る、きた.す、き.たす、き.たる、き、こ (kuru, kitaru, kitasu, kitasu, kitaru, ki, ko).
How many strokes does 来 have?
来 has 7 strokes. Its radical is 木 (tree).
Is 来 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Yes. 来 (come, due, next, cause, become) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.
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