Meaning and Usage
"予測" (よそく) means "prediction" or "estimation" and is commonly used in contexts where someone tries to foresee or estimate future events or outcomes based on available information.
Common Contexts
It is often used in weather forecasts (天気予測), sales or business forecasts (売上予測), and economic trend predictions (経済動向の予測). The word carries a neutral tone and is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts.
Collocations and Patterns
- 天気予測 (weather forecast): used when talking about weather predictions.
- 売上予測 (sales forecast): used in business contexts to estimate sales.
- 予測が外れる (prediction is wrong): a common phrase indicating that the prediction did not come true.
- 予測する (to predict): the verb form used to express the act of predicting.
Usage Tips
When using "予測," speakers imply a reasoned guess based on data or trends rather than a wild guess. It is often paired with verbs like "する" (to do) or expressions indicating accuracy or error. Avoid confusing "予測" with "予想," which is more about expectation or anticipation and can be more subjective.