预期 (yù qī) means 'expectation' as a noun or 'anticipated'/'expected' as an adjective. The character 预 (yù) means 'in advance' or 'pre-', and 期 (qī) means 'to expect' or 'period'; together, they convey the idea of something looked forward to or projected beforehand. It’s commonly used in formal, academic, business, or analytical contexts — such as economic forecasts, project timelines, or psychological discussions about hopes and assumptions.

As a noun, 预期 often appears after measure words like 一个 or this kind of, e.g., 一个积极的预期 ('a positive expectation'). As an adjective, it modifies nouns directly: 预期结果 ('expected outcome'), 预期收入 ('anticipated income'). Unlike the more colloquial 期待 (qī dài), which emphasizes personal hope or desire, 预期 is more objective, rational, and often data- or logic-based — think 'forecast' rather than 'wish'.