The word "将来" is formed by combining two characters that each convey a sense of forward motion in time: 将 (jiāng), which carries the inherent meaning of "about to" or "on the point of", and 来 (lái), which means "to come". When placed together, they create a compound that visually and conceptually depicts the notion of time that is "on the verge of arriving" or "about to come", thus directly evoking the abstract concept of the future as something continuously approaching and unfolding.