About
The character "未" originates from an early pictograph representing a tree with additional branches or dense foliage, initially conveying a sense of luxuriant growth and vitality. Its structure, composed of two horizontal and two vertical strokes with the top stroke shorter, has consistently preserved this arboreal imagery through its evolution into the standardized form used today. The semantic journey of the character saw it transition from its original meaning of abundance to becoming a dedicated negative adverb indicating "not yet", a shift that capitalized on the metaphorical connection between the immaturity of a growing plant and the notion of something incomplete or pending in time. While this grammatical function became primary, the character also retained its role in traditional systems such as the earthly branches, where it denotes the eighth position.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
未来是美好的。
他未参加比赛。
这是一个未知数。
他未必会来。
我未曾去过北京。
未成年不能喝酒。
虽然计划未定，但我们继续准备。
此项研究尚未得出明确结论。