预报

• Pinyin: yù bào
• Hanzi breakdown: 预 = 予 (give) + 页 (page/head), simplified from 預, meaning 'in advance'; 报 = 扌(手) (hand) + phonetic component, simplified from 報, meaning 'to report'

Meaning

To forecast; forecast; prediction. Refers to predicting future events, especially weather conditions.

Most commonly used in the context of weather forecasts (天气预报). Can be used as both a verb (to forecast) and a noun (a forecast). Also used for other types of predictions in formal contexts.

Examples

1. 天气预报说明天会下雨。 The weather forecast says it will rain tomorrow.
2. 今天的天气和预报的一样。 Today's weather is the same as the forecast said.
3. 气象台预报这个周末气温会下降。 The meteorological station forecasts that temperatures will drop this weekend.

Usage Guide

Context: weather, news, planning

Tone: informative

Do Say

• 你看了今天的天气预报吗？(Did you check today's weather forecast?)
• 预报说下周会很热。(The forecast says next week will be very hot.)

Don't Say

• 我预报他明天会来。(Don't use 预报 for personal predictions — use 预计 or 估计 instead; 预报 is for official forecasts)

Origin & History

预 (in advance, beforehand) + 报 (to report, to announce). Together: to report in advance — a forecast.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal