未 means “not yet, un-”

み · mi

Also: hitherto, still

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

いまだ, まだ, ひつじ

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ミ, ビ

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 4 · 5 strokes

The story

A tree (木) whose top branch is still shorter than the one below: not grown yet. 未来, the future, is time that has not yet come, and 未成年 is anyone not yet of age; with a long top line it would be 末, the end.

Used in 未来 (mirai, future), 未成年 (miseinen, minor/underage), and 未定 (mitei, undecided)

More from Time & Change

• 更 renew
• 刻 carve
• 暮 live
• 昔 long ago
• 晩 evening
• 化 transform
• 成 become
• 期 period
• 続 continue
• 初 first
• 際 edge
• 次 next

Learn 未 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.