Japanese word

期待

Pronunciation

Romajikitai

Meaning

  • nounexpectation

Example

母の期待に応えたいです。haha no ki tai ni kota e ta i de su

I want to meet my mother's expectations.

Illustration for 期待 (expectation)

More examples

新製品の発表を前に、会社への期待が高まっています。shin sei hin no hap pyō o mae ni gai sha e no ki tai ga taka ma tte i ma su

Ahead of the new product announcement, expectations for the company are growing.

Core concept

Describes a belief that a particular result is likely or desired, held while waiting for it to happen.

Common phrases

  • 期待するki tai su ru

    expect

  • 期待に応えるki tai ni kota e ru

    meet expectations

  • 期待どおりki tai dō ri

    as expected

  • 期待を寄せるki tai o yo se ru

    place hopes in ___

Similar words

希望kibō: A desired result or the feeling of wanting that result to happen.
見込みmikomi: The likelihood that a future result will happen.
予想yosō: A belief about what will happen based on available information or judgment.

Definition in Japanese

あることが実現する、または人が望ましい行動をすると見込んで待ち受ける気持ち。a ru ko to ga jitsu gen su ru ma ta wa hito ga nozo ma shi i kō dō o su ru to mi ko n de ma chi u ke ru ki mo chi

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese word 期待 (kitai) combines 期 (ki, "period") and 待 (tai, "wait"), expressing a wait for a certain outcome.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 期待 (kitai) often suggests a positive view of a future result, so 期待しています (kitai shite imasu) can sound like praise as well as a prediction.

Other meanings

  • hopenoun
  • anticipationnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 期待感kitaikansense of expectationnoun
  • 期待度kitaidolevel of expectationnoun

Word lists with this word