预期

• Pinyin: yù qī
• Hanzi breakdown: 预 = 予 + 页, beforehand; 期 = 其 + 月, period/expect

Meaning

To expect; to anticipate. The expected outcome or anticipated result.

Used for expectations about future events or outcomes. Often appears in business and economic contexts: 预期收益 (expected returns), 超出预期 (exceed expectations), 低于预期 (below expectations). Can be used as both a verb and a noun.

Examples

1. 这次考试的结果比我预期的要好。 The exam results were better than I expected.
2. 公司今年的销售额达到了预期目标。 The company's sales this year reached the expected target.
3. 专家预期经济将在下半年复苏。 Experts anticipate the economy will recover in the second half of the year.

Usage Guide

Context: business, economics, analysis

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这个项目的进展符合预期。(The project's progress meets expectations.)
• 我没预期到会这么顺利。(I didn't expect it to go so smoothly.)

Don't Say

• 我预期你来 (Too formal for casual plans — say 我以为你会来 or 我没想到你会来)

Origin & History

Compound of 预 (in advance) and 期 (period, to expect). Together meaning to expect beforehand.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal