来週

• Reading: らいしゅう
• Romaji: raishuu
• Kanji breakdown: 来 (rai/ku) — coming, next; 週 (shuu) — week
• Pronunciation: /ɾa.i.ɕɯː/

Meaning

Next week. Refers to the seven-day period after the current week.

Combines 来 (coming/next) and 週 (week). Used for future plans and scheduling. Part of the trio with 先週 and 今週. 来 also appears in 来月 (next month), 来年 (next year), and the verb 来る (kuru, to come). Always takes future or present tense, never past.

Examples

1. 来週、日本語のテストがあります。 There's a Japanese test next week.
2. 来週の水曜日は休みです。 Next Wednesday is a day off.
3. 来週から新しいアルバイトを始めます。 I'm starting a new part-time job next week.

Usage Guide

Context: planning, scheduling, future events

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

A Sino-Japanese compound of 来 (rai, coming/next) and 週 (shuu, week). 来 originally depicted wheat arriving, then broadened to mean 'coming' in all senses including time.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal