前途
ぜんと · zento · JLPT N1 · noun
prospect
🛣️ 前 (front) + 途 (road) = the road ahead: your future prospects
前 means before or ahead, and 途 means route or journey. Together they name the path lying ahead of you, which is where your prospects are.
前 — top 丷 + 一 + 月 (moon) + 刂 (knife)
Originally written 歬, depicting a foot 止 above a boat 舟, meaning to advance or go forward. Over time the form evolved and the knife radical 刂 was added, while 止 and 舟 fused into the modern shape. The core meaning 'front, before, ahead' has stayed consistent.