来週
raishū[ɾa̠iɕɨː]
In Japanese, next week is said as 来週 (raishū).
来週 is used as an adverb to refer to the week following the current one.
Meaning: week after this one (adv)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 来週 is composed of the kanji 来, meaning 'come' and 週, meaning 'week'.
Which one should you use?
While 来週 refers to next week, 先週 is used to mean last week. To refer to the week after next, you use 再来週, which adds the prefix 再 (meaning 'again') to the word.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can use the particle の after 来週 to create the possessive form 'next week's', allowing it to modify a noun, such as 'next week's meeting' (来週の).
How do you pronounce it?
raishū
Did you know?
- In Japanese business culture, saying 来週検討します (I will consider it next week) is sometimes used as a polite, indirect way to say 'no' or 'not interested' without being blunt.
- The character 週 for 'week' is derived from a root meaning 'circuit' or 'cycle', reflecting the idea of a seven day loop.
- The concept of a 'week' in Japanese culture was historically much more fluid than the strict seven-day cycle used in 来週 today.
Examples in context
- また再来週。See you the week after next week.This sentence shows how to use the word to refer to the week after next.Tatoeba #2366082 by tommy_san, translation #2394536 by fenfang557
- 来週来るの？Are you coming next week?This sentence uses the word to ask if someone is coming next week.Tatoeba #8764341 by bunbuku, translation #4134539 by CK
- 来週するよ。I'll do it next week.This sentence uses the word to state an action will be performed next week.Tatoeba #9671246 by small_snow, translation #9670931 by CK
- 会議は来週木曜日に予定されています。The meeting is scheduled for next Thursday.
- 来週の火曜日ではなく、次の週の水曜日にお会いしませんか？Instead of next Tuesday, would you like to meet on the following week's Wednesday?
- 来週の月曜日、一緒に映画を見に行こうよ！Let's go watch a movie together next Monday!
- 188 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing their schedules for a trip.
- 陽葵 Himari来週、空いてる？raishuu, aiteru?Are you free next week?
- 健太 Kenta来週はちょっと忙しいよ。raishuu wa chotto isogashii yo.I am a little busy next week.
- 陽葵 Himariじゃあ、再来週はどう？jaa, saraishuu wa dou?Then, how about the week after next?
- 健太 Kenta再来週なら大丈夫！saraishuu nara daijoubu!The week after next is fine!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “next week” translations and entries 来週, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
