Meaning and Usage
"予報" (よほう) means "forecast" or "prediction" and is commonly used to talk about expected future events, especially in contexts like weather, economy, or natural phenomena.
Common Contexts
The most frequent use is in weather forecasts (天気予報), but it also appears in economic forecasts (経済予報), disaster predictions, and other areas where future conditions are estimated.
Collocations and Patterns
- 天気予報 (てんきよほう): weather forecast, used daily in conversation and media.
- 経済予報 (けいざいよほう): economic forecast, more formal and used in business or news.
- 進路予報 (しんろよほう): path forecast, often for typhoons or storms.
Register and Nuance
"予報" is a neutral noun, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It implies an informed estimate based on data, not just a guess.
Learner Tips
Be careful not to confuse "予報" with "予想" (よそう), which also means prediction but is more about personal or less data-driven guesses. "予報" usually involves expert analysis or scientific data.