らいしゅう

§ What does らいしゅう mean and when do people use it?

Let's talk about a super common Japanese word: らいしゅう (raishū). If you're learning Japanese, you're going to hear and use this one a lot. Simply put, らいしゅう means 'next week'. It's a straightforward noun that refers to the week immediately following the current one. No tricks, no hidden meanings. Just 'next week'.

So, when do people use it? Anytime they want to talk about something happening in the next seven-day period. Think about all the times in English you say 'next week'. It's the same in Japanese. Planning an appointment? Talking about an upcoming event? Scheduling a meeting? All perfect times for らいしゅう. It's an essential word for coordinating schedules and making future plans.

Meaning

Next week.

You'll often hear らいしゅう used with verbs that express future actions. For example, if you want to say 'I will go next week', you'd use らいしゅう. If you want to say 'The meeting is next week', again, らいしゅう is your word. It's versatile and slots easily into various sentence structures. As you progress in your Japanese studies, you'll find that mastering these basic time expressions like らいしゅう makes a huge difference in your ability to communicate effectively.

Hint

Next week, I will go on a trip.

Notice how らいしゅう comes at the beginning of the sentence in the example. While Japanese word order can be flexible, placing time expressions like らいしゅう early in the sentence is very common and natural. It sets the timeframe for the action that follows. Always pay attention to how native speakers place these words; it will help you sound more natural.

Another common use for らいしゅう is when you're making arrangements or plans with someone. Imagine you're trying to schedule a get-together:

Hint

How about next Saturday?

Here, らいしゅう is combined with の (no), a particle that indicates possession or association, and then with 'Saturday' (土曜日 - doyōbi) to specify 'next Saturday'. This is a very practical construction you'll use frequently. It's efficient and clear.

In summary, らいしゅう is your go-to word for anything happening 'next week'. It's simple, direct, and incredibly useful in daily conversation. Get comfortable with it, and you'll find your ability to discuss future plans in Japanese will improve significantly.

Hello, Japanese learners! Today we're looking at the word らいしゅう (raishuu), which means 'next week'. It's a fundamental word you'll use a lot, so let's get into how to use it correctly.

§ Basic meaning of 来週 (raishuu)

Japanese Word

らいしゅう (raishuu)

Definition

Next week.

It's a noun, and it directly translates to 'next week'. Pretty straightforward, right?

§ Using 来週 (raishuu) in sentences

The good news is that 来週 (raishuu) is relatively easy to use. It often doesn't need a specific particle like に (ni) when indicating 'when' something will happen, especially with verbs that indicate motion or an event.

§ Simple actions next week

Here are some common ways you'll hear and use 来週 (raishuu).

Hint

Next week, I will go to Japan.

Hint

Next week, there will be a test. / I have a test next week.

Hint

There is a meeting next Monday.

In the last example, we added の (no) to specify a day within 'next week'. This is how you'd be more precise.

§ Asking about next week

You can also use it to ask questions about plans for next week.

Hint

What are your plans for next week?

Notice how the structure is very similar to English: 'Next week, what are you doing?'

§ Common phrases with 来週 (raishuu)

Here are a few common expressions where 来週 (raishuu) is used.

• 来週中 (raishuuchuu): During next week / Sometime next week.

  この仕事を来週中に終わらせます。

  Hint

  I will finish this work sometime next week.

• 再来週 (sararaishuu): The week after next.

  再来週、大阪へ出張です。

  Hint

  I have a business trip to Osaka the week after next.

That's it for 来週 (raishuu). Keep practicing, and you'll be using it naturally in no time!

§ What らいしゅう (raishū) means

Japanese Word

らいしゅう

Reading

raishū

Part of Speech

Noun

English Definition

Next week.

Alright, let's talk about らいしゅう (raishū). It's a straightforward word, meaning 'next week.' You'll hear this all the time in Japan, whether you're at work, school, or just chatting with friends. It's a fundamental word for talking about future plans and events. Think of it as your go-to phrase for anything happening in the upcoming week.

§ How to use らいしゅう (raishū)

Using らいしゅう is pretty simple. You can use it directly before a verb to indicate when something will happen. You don't usually need a particle like に (ni) with らいしゅう when it's just stating 'next week' as the time of an action. However, if you want to emphasize 'on next week' or specify a particular day next week, then you might add に.

Let's look at some examples to get a better feel for it:

• 来週、日本に行きます。

  (Raishū, Nihon ni ikimasu. - I will go to Japan next week.)

• 来週の会議は午前10時です。

  (Raishū no kaigi wa gozen jūji desu. - Next week's meeting is at 10 AM.)

• 来週までにこのレポートを提出してください。

  (Raishū made ni kono repōto o teishutsu shite kudasai. - Please submit this report by next week.)

§ Where you'll hear らいしゅう (raishū)

You'll hear らいしゅう in many daily situations. It's a common word for scheduling and planning, so it comes up a lot in discussions about work, school, and even general news updates.

At work:

In a professional setting, らいしゅう is essential for deadlines, meetings, and project planning. Your colleagues and superiors will use it constantly. Pay attention to how it's used with different verbs to understand the nuance.

• 来週のプレゼンテーションの準備はできていますか？

  (Raishū no purezentēshon no junbi wa dekite imasu ka? - Are you ready for next week's presentation?)

• 部長は来週出張です。

  (Buchō wa raishū shutchō desu. - The department head is on a business trip next week.)

• 来週の月曜日に会議があります。

  (Raishū no getsuyōbi ni kaigi ga arimasu. - There's a meeting next Monday.)

At school:

For students, らいしゅう is crucial for keeping track of assignments, exams, and school events.

• 来週テストがあります。

  (Raishū tesuto ga arimasu. - There's a test next week.)

• 来週から夏休みです。

  (Raishū kara natsuyasumi desu. - Summer vacation starts next week.)

• 先生は来週の授業で新しい文法を教えます。

  (Sensei wa raishū no jugyō de atarashii bunpō o oshiemasu. - The teacher will teach new grammar in next week's class.)

In the news:

News reports often use らいしゅう to inform the public about upcoming events, weather forecasts, or political developments.

• 来週、新しい法律が施行されます。

  (Raishū, atarashii hōritsu ga shikō saremasu. - A new law will come into effect next week.)

• 来週は全国的に雨の予報です。

  (Raishū wa zenkokuteki ni ame no yohō desu. - Rain is forecast nationwide next week.)

• 政府は来週、新たな経済対策を発表する予定です。

  (Seifu wa raishū, aratana keizai taisaku o happyō suru yotei desu. - The government plans to announce new economic measures next week.)

This lesson is all about らいしゅう (raishuu), which means "next week." It's a common and important word to know when you're talking about plans or events in the near future. We'll look at how to use it, compare it to similar words, and give you plenty of examples.

§ What "らいしゅう" means

Japanese Word

らいしゅう (raishuu)

Type

Noun

Meaning

Next week

When you want to say something is happening in the week that comes after the current one, you use らいしゅう. It's straightforward and used very often in daily conversation.

§ Examples using "らいしゅう"

Hint

Next week, (I) will go on a trip.

Hint

There is a meeting next week's Monday.

Hint

Please submit the homework by next week.

§ Similar words and when to use them

While らいしゅう (raishuu) is straightforward for "next week," there are other time-related words you'll encounter. Let's compare it with a few to make sure you're using the right one at the right time.

Here are some common words for different timeframes:

• こんしゅう (konshuu) – This week: This is used for the current week you are in. If you say 「こんしゅう」, you're talking about now.

  今週は忙しいです。

  Hint

  (I) am busy this week.

• せんしゅう (senshuu) – Last week: This refers to the week before the current one. Use this when discussing past events.

  先週、友達と映画を見ました。

  Hint

  Last week, (I) watched a movie with a friend.

• あさって (asatte) – The day after tomorrow: This is specifically for two days from now, not a full week.

  明後日は休みです。

  Hint

  The day after tomorrow is a holiday.

• つぎのしゅう (tsugi no shuu) – The next week (general): While らいしゅう is more common and direct for "next week," つぎのしゅう can also mean "the next week" but feels a bit more general, almost like "the following week" in English. らいしゅう is almost always preferred for the immediate next week.

Understanding these distinctions will help you be more precise in your Japanese. You wouldn't use らいしゅう if you mean "this week" or "last week," just as you wouldn't use "the day after tomorrow" when you mean "next week." Keep practicing these simple time expressions, and you'll get the hang of it quickly.

That's it for らいしゅう! You now know how to talk about "next week" in Japanese. Good job!