予想します（よそうします、yosoushimasu）
- to expect

The Japanese word 予想します (yosou shimasu) means "to predict," "to anticipate," "to expect," or "to surmise." It implies making a judgment or forming an opinion about something that will happen in the future, based on available information or evidence. The word expresses an idea that is not yet certain but is considered likely or probable. The verb 予想します can be used in a variety of contexts, from everyday conversations to more formal settings. ⚫︎It focuses on the process of forming an expectation or a belief about a future event or situation. ⚫︎This is often based on the analysis of available information or knowledge. ⚫︎The accuracy of the prediction is not necessarily guaranteed.

⚫︎明日の天気は雨だと予想します。 Translation: I predict that the weather will be rain tomorrow. ⚫︎試験の結果は良いと予想します。 Translation: I expect the results of the exam to be good. ⚫︎この映画はヒットすると予想します。 Translation: I anticipate that this movie will be a hit.

⚫︎予想します is a polite and versatile verb, suitable for various situations. ⚫︎It's appropriate for both formal and informal contexts. ⚫︎You can use it when expressing your thoughts about future events, outcomes, or situations. ⚫︎It can be used when you want to give your opinion about a future plan. ⚫︎Generally, it takes the direct object marker を before the thing being predicted (e.g., 結果を予想します - to predict the result). ⚫︎It is often used when speaking about business, news, and daily life. ⚫︎It can be easily used with time expressions such as "tomorrow", "next week", "in the future".

⚫︎予想します is written in kanji and hiragana. ⚫︎The kanji is 予想 and the verb suffix is します。 ⚫︎The hiragana reading is よそうします。 ⚫︎Other forms are possible, such as: ⚫︎予想する (yosou suru) - to predict (plain form) ⚫︎予想した (yosou shita) - predicted (past tense) ⚫︎予想しない (yosou shinai) - will not predict (negative, plain form) ⚫︎予想しました (yosou shimashita) - predicted (polite past tense) ⚫︎予想 (yosou) - prediction (noun form) ⚫︎予想している (yosou shite iru) - to be predicting (present progressive) ⚫︎Variations in the okurigana are not typical.

⚫︎予測する (yosoku suru) - to predict (similar meaning, often used in more formal contexts or for technical forecasts) ⚫︎見通す (mitōsu) - to foresee, to have a view of (often implies a more comprehensive understanding or longer-term prediction) ⚫︎期待する (kitai suru) - to expect, to hope for (more focused on a desired outcome) ⚫︎推測する (suisoku suru) - to guess, to speculate (based on incomplete information) ⚫︎見込む (mikomu) - to anticipate, to expect (often related to business or planning)

⚫︎There isn't a single direct antonym. Instead, antonyms would depend on the context. Some possibilities include: ⚫︎断言する (dangen suru) - to declare, to assert (implies certainty rather than prediction) ⚫︎確信する (kakushin suru) - to believe firmly, to be convinced (implies a strong belief) ⚫︎Words or phrases that imply a lack of expectation or uncertainty: わからない (wakaranai) - I don't know, 予測不能 (yosoku funō) - unpredictable.

来年の経済成長率は３％だと予想します。 ・Translation: I predict that the economic growth rate next year will be 3%. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 予想します to state an economic forecast for the coming year.

彼は試合に勝つと予想します。 ・Translation: I expect that he will win the match. ・Explanation: Here, 予想します expresses the speaker's expectation about the outcome of a game.

The word 予想 is a compound word: ⚫︎予 (yo) - meaning "beforehand," "in advance," or "previous." ⚫︎想 (sō) - meaning "to think," "to consider," "to imagine." ⚫︎Therefore, 予想 (yosou) combines these elements to signify "thinking beforehand" or "anticipating." ⚫︎The verb します (shimasu) is a polite, general-purpose verb meaning "to do". ⚫︎予想します combines the noun 予想 with the verb します to create the verb "to predict" or "to anticipate".