期待
kitai[kʲita̠i]
The English phrase 'expectations' is translated into Japanese as 期待 (kitai).
期待 refers to strong beliefs or hopes that someone or something will achieve a particular result. You can use the phrase 期待に応える to say one has met or fulfilled expectations, or 期待を裏切る to describe the act of disappointing someone or betraying their expectations. If something happens exactly as you hoped, you can use 期待通り to mean 'as expected'.
How do you pronounce it?
kitai
Did you know?
- When someone says 期待している (I am expecting/hoping), it can sometimes feel like a heavy burden of pressure to the listener, rather than just a friendly expression of support.
- The character 待 in related words like 期待 (when used in similar contexts) means 'to wait', emphasizing that expectation is an active state of waiting for a result.
- Japanese has a specific concept called 期待値 ('expectation value'), borrowed from statistics, which is frequently used in casual gaming and gambling slang to describe the mathematical probability of a win.
Examples in context
- 旅行は期待通りでしたか。Did the trip live up to your expectations?This sentence is useful for asking if a trip lived up to your 期待.Tatoeba #78156 by small_snow, translation #325562 by CM
- 必ず期待に応えてみせます。I'll never fail to meet your expectations.This sentence is useful for expressing the determination to meet 期待.Tatoeba #85475 by small_snow, translation #318238 by CM
- 彼は期待に応えられなかった。He could not live up to expectations.This sentence is useful for describing someone who could not live up to 期待.Tatoeba #10471580 by KK_kaku_, translation #1487370 by marshmallowcat
- 期待していてくださいね！Please look forward to it!
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yota and Misaki are talking about a new movie.
- 陽太 Yotaこの映画、かなり期待しているよ。Kono eiga, kanari kitai shite iru yo.I have high expectations for this movie.
- 美咲 Misaki私も！きっと面白いと思う。Watashi mo! Kitto omoshiroi to omou.Me too! I'm sure it will be interesting.
- 陽太 Yota期待しすぎないほうがいいかな。Kitai shisuginai hou ga ii kana.Maybe I shouldn't have too many expectations.
- 美咲 Misaki大丈夫。予告編が最高だったし。Daijoubu. Yokokouhen ga saikou datta shi.It'll be fine. The trailer was great.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 期待, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
