Japanese word

予想

Pronunciation

Romajiyosō

Meaning

  • nounprediction, guess

Example

明日の天気を予想します。asu no ten ki o yo sō shi ma su

I predict tomorrow's weather.

Illustration for 予想 (prediction)

More examples

友だちの答えを予想します。tomo da chi no kota e o yo sō shi ma su

I guess my friend's answer.

この問題の答えを予想してください。ko no mon dai no kota e o yo sō shi te ku da sa i

Please predict the answer to this question.

Core concept

Refers to a view of what is likely to happen, formed before the event occurs.

Common phrases

  • 予想が当たるyo sō ga a ta ru

    prediction comes true

  • 予想が外れるyo sō ga hazu re ru

    prediction is wrong

  • 予想を立てるyo sō o ta te ru

    make a prediction

  • 予想どおりyo sō dō ri

    as predicted

Similar words

予測yosoku: An estimate of what will happen based on data or other information.
予報yohō: A statement about future weather or other conditions based on observations and analysis.
推測suisoku: A conclusion about something unknown based on limited clues.

Definition in Japanese

将来の出来事や結果がどうなるかを、事前に思い描くこと。shō rai no de ki goto ya kek ka ga dō na ru ka o ji zen ni omo i ega ku ko to

Word origin

予 (yo, "in advance") + 想 (sō, "think or imagine") forms a Sino-Japanese word for thinking about an outcome before it happens.

Usage tips

  • Japanese weather reports often use 予想 (yosō) in phrases such as 予想最高気温 (yosō saikō kion) for the expected high temperature.

Other meanings

  • forecastnoun
  • expectationnoun

Related words

  • 予想するyosōsurupredictverb

Word lists with this word