How to say "forecast" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 予報よほうnoun, suru verb, transitive verbThe word for a forecast issued as a report, most familiar from weather forecasts; it presents predicted conditions as announced information rather than a personal guess.
- 予期よきnoun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers expecting or anticipating something in advance; as a translation of 'forecast' it is marginal, since it names the act of expecting rather than a prediction itself.
- 予想よそうsuru verb, transitive verb, no-adjectiveThe general-purpose word for expecting or predicting how something will turn out; when 'forecast' means a prediction of results, outcomes or trends, this is the word you want.
- 予言よげんnoun, suru verb, transitive verbPrediction in the sense of declaring what will happen — prophecy or foretelling; it is not the word for forecasts of weather or similar conditions.
- 思惑おもわくnounPoints to what people expect or anticipate, often others' expectations with a speculative flavor; it is seldom the word for a forecast itself.
Use 予報 for issued forecasts such as the weather, 予想 for general predictions of outcomes, 予期 for the act of expecting, 予言 for prophecy-like declarations, and 思惑 for people's speculative expectations.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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