明天

Etymology & Components

The Chinese word 明天 (míngtiān) for "tomorrow" is composed of two characters: 明 (míng) and 天 (tiān). The character 明 originally meant "bright" or "light", and was often used to refer to the sun or the sky. Over time, it came to be used more broadly to mean "clear" or "obvious". The character 天 originally meant "sky" or "heaven", and was often used in religious or philosophical contexts. Over time, it came to be used more broadly to mean "day" or "time".The combination of these two characters creates the word 明天, which literally means "bright day" or "clear day". This is a fitting name for tomorrow, as it is the day that follows the darkness of night and brings new light and hope.