Meaning and Usage
"予言" (よげん) refers to a prediction or prophecy about future events. It is often used in contexts involving forecasts, supernatural predictions, or promises about what will happen.
Common Contexts
This word is typically found in formal or literary contexts, such as discussions about prophecies, fortune-telling, or historical predictions. It can also appear in everyday conversation when talking about someone's forecast or guess about the future.
Collocations and Patterns
- 予言が当たる (よげんがあたる): "the prediction comes true" — used to express that a prophecy or forecast was accurate.
- 予言をする (よげんをする): "to make a prediction" — common verb phrase.
- 未来を予言する (みらいをよげんする): "to predict the future" — emphasizes the time frame.
Nuances and Tips
Using "予言" implies a certain seriousness or formality compared to casual words like "予想" (よそう, expectation). It often carries a sense of fate or destiny, especially in literary or mystical contexts. Learners should avoid confusing "予言" with "予想," which is more about logical or statistical forecasts.
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"予言" is generally neutral to formal and is appropriate in written and spoken Japanese when discussing predictions with a serious tone.