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
先祖伝来
せんぞでんらい
inherited; family (heirloom); ancestral
千客万来
せんきゃくばんらい
flood of customers; roaring business
故事来歴
こじらいれき
origin and history; particulars
祖先伝来
そせんでんらい
hereditary
未来永劫
みらいえいごう
forevermore; for eternity
一陽来復
いちようらいふく
return of spring; long-awaited, favorable turn of fortune (favourable)
好機到来
こうきとうらい
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
開闢以来
かいびゃくいらい
since the beginning of the world; since the dawn of history
時機到来
じきとうらい
a good chance coming along; the time has come (for, to, when ...); opportunity knocking
時節到来
じせつとうらい
the time has come (for, to, when ...); the time being ripe (for)
父祖伝来
ふそでんらい
hereditary; patrimonial; handed down from generation to generation
往古来今
おうこらいこん
in all ages; since antiquity
Poetry
春すぎて 夏来にけらし 白妙の 衣ほすてふ 天の香具山
Spring has gone and summer seems to have come — white robes are spread to dry, they say, on Mount Amanokagu.
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
Though I leave for Mount Inaba, if I hear that you are waiting, like the pines on its peak, I will come straight back.
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
To this lonely house, overgrown with layered weeds, no one comes. Yet autumn has come.
我と来て遊べや親のない雀
Come and play with me — sparrow with no parents.
Anime & Manga
未来日記
The Future Diary
A well-known work with 来 in its Japanese title.
劇場版「鬼滅の刃」無限城編 第一章 猗窩座再来
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
A well-known work with 来 in its Japanese title.
問題児たちが異世界から来るそうですよ?
Problem Children Are Coming From Another World, Aren't They?
A well-known work with 来 in its Japanese title.
魔法科高校の劣等生 来訪者編
The Irregular at Magic High School: Visitor Arc
A well-known work with 来 in its Japanese title.
ヴァイオレット・エヴァーガーデン きっと"愛"を知る日が来るのだろう
Violet Evergarden: Special
A well-known work with 来 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
来島通総
Name contains 来
Kurushima Michifusa was a Japanese samurai of the late Sengoku period, the 4th son of Murakami Michiyasu , and younger brother of Kurujima Michiyuki.
Wikipedia大来皇女
Name contains 来
Ōku was a Japanese princess during the Asuka period in Japanese history.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
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?
来 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means come, due, next, cause, become. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.