How to say "expectation" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 期待きたいnoun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbCovers expectation as hope — what you look forward to or hope for from a person, event, or effort, as in 'high expectations' or 'live up to expectations'.
- 予想よそうsuru verb, transitive verb, no-adjectiveExpectation as prediction: an idea formed in advance of how something will turn out. Typical contexts are forecasts, election or race picks, and market outlooks.
- 思惑おもわくnounExpectation as what is on someone's mind — often other people's expectations, intentions, or speculation rather than your own hopes. Common in market talk, where prices move on speculation.
- 予期よきnoun, suru verb, transitive verbAnticipation of something that may happen, especially events or reactions one looks ahead to rather than hopes for. Often appears where English says 'unexpected' or 'unforeseen'.
- 予定よていnoun, suru verb, transitive verbReally 'plans' or 'schedule' rather than expectation; it fits only when 'expectation' means something arranged or slated to happen, as in an expected opening date — not hopes or forecasts.
Use 期待 for hopes and anticipation, 予想 for predicting outcomes, 思惑 for what people expect or speculate, 予期 for foreseeing what may happen, and 予定 only for scheduled plans.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 期待きたいexpectation
- 予想よそうexpectation
- 思惑おもわくexpectation
- 予期よきexpectation
- 予定よていplans
- 心待ちこころまちanticipation
- つもりintention
- 想定そうていhypothesis
- 所期しょきexpected
- 心づもりこころづもりanticipation
- 見越しみこしanticipation
- 期待値きたいちexpected value
- 平均値へいきんちaverage value
- 心算しんさんintention
- 案あんexpectation
- 希望きぼう(bright) prospects
- 見込みみこみexpectation
- 望みのぞみprospect
- 思いおもいdesire
- 目算もくさんexpectation
- 計算けいさんconsideration
- 胸算用むなざんようexpectation
- 考えかんがえwish
See also
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