指對未來可能發生之事的預期或信念，也指社會或他人對某人的標準要求。
預期、預料
EN: a belief that something will happen or is likely to happen
翻譯: 對某事將會或可能發生的信念。
期望、指望
EN: a feeling or belief about what someone should do or how they should behave
翻譯: 對某人應做某事或應如何行事的一種感覺或信念。
（社會）期望、標準
EN: a standard of conduct or performance expected by a group or society
翻譯: 群體或社會對行為或表現所預期的標準。
（統計）期望值
EN: the expected value of a random variable in probability theory and statistics
翻譯: 在機率論和統計學中，隨機變數的預期值。
小提醒：注意 'expectation' 常以複數形式 'expectations' 出現，表示多方面的期望或要求，例如 'meet someone's expectations'（符合某人的期望）。
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Real-life Examples of "Expectation" from YouTube Videos
For those scared of "wasted potential"
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“But at the end of the day, like some part of me still believes that these are things that are meant to be enjoyed, And I feel like it has been so hard for me to even get back to drawing, to get back to doing things that I genuinely loved as a kid, because I have so much expectation and pressure for myself”
1. a belief that something will happen or is likely to happen
對某事將會發生或可能發生的預期、預料
There is a general expectation that the company will announce record profits this year.
普遍預期該公司今年將宣布創紀錄的利潤。
The team failed to live up to the high expectations of their fans.
這支隊伍辜負了球迷們的高度期望。
2. a standard of behavior or achievement that someone is believed to have or should have
對某人應有或預期會有的行為或成就標準
As a manager, she sets clear expectations for her team's performance.
作為一名經理，她為團隊的表現設定了明確的期望。
The job comes with certain expectations regarding working hours and availability.
這份工作對工作時間和待命狀態有一定的要求。
3. a strong belief that something should happen or be the case
堅信某事應該發生或成為事實
He had an expectation of privacy in his own home.
他期望在自己的家中享有隱私。
It is a reasonable expectation that public services should be reliable.
公共服務應該可靠，這是一個合理的期望。
4. the feeling of looking forward to something, often with excitement
期待某事發生的感覺，常帶有興奮之情
The children were waiting with great expectation for the holiday to begin.
孩子們滿懷期待地等待假期開始。
There was a buzz of expectation in the air before the concert.
音樂會開始前，空氣中瀰漫著一股期待的興奮感。
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| have/entertain an expectation + that-clause | 抱有…的期望 | We had an expectation that the project would be completed on time. (我們原本期望這個專案能準時完成。) |
| expectation + of + noun/V-ing | 對…的期望 | There is a high expectation of success. (對成功抱有很高的期望。) |
| expectation + for + noun | 對…的期望 | My expectations for this new job are very high. (我對這份新工作的期望非常高。) |
| live up to/meet/exceed expectations | 達到/符合/超越期望 | The film's sequel did not live up to expectations. (這部電影的續集沒有達到期望。) |
| against/contrary to (all) expectations | 出乎（所有）預料 | Against all expectations, the underdog team won the championship. (出乎所有人的預料，那支不被看好的隊伍贏得了冠軍。) |
| in expectation of + noun | 預期…；期待著… | The market rallied in expectation of positive news. (市場因預期會有正面消息而上漲。) |
| set/raise/lower expectations | 設定/提高/降低期望 | The manager tried to lower expectations before the product launch. (經理試圖在產品發布前降低大家的期望。) |
of 後面接動名詞 (V-ing)。to 是不定詞符號，後面接原形動詞。EN:She has an expectation to receive a promotion by the end of the year.
翻譯:她預期自己在年底前會獲得升遷。
在大多數情況下，expectation of doing 用於預期一個狀況或常態，而 expectation to do 則用於預期一個具體的未來事件，後者在口語中更為常見。
expectation vs anticipation
「expectation」通常指基於證據或承諾而產生的預期，較為理性；「anticipation」則更偏向對未來事件的情感期待或預感，常帶有興奮感。
expectation vs hope
「expectation」是認為某事很可能發生的預期，帶有較強的確信度；「hope」則是對美好結果的願望，但對其實現與否較不確定。
expectation vs assumption
「expectation」是對未來結果的預期，常涉及情感投入；「assumption」則是未經證實即視為真的前提或設想，是推理的起點。
在口語中，常用來引述或轉述他人對某事的預期或要求。 EN: So, what's the expectation from management on this project? 翻譯: 所以，管理層對這個專案的期望是什麼？
EN:Her expectation was that we'd finish by Friday, but that's not realistic.
翻譯:她的期望是我們週五前完成，但那不切實際。
與「high」、「low」、「big」等形容詞連用，強調預期的程度或重要性。 EN: There's a really high expectation for his performance tonight. 翻譯: 對他今晚的表現有非常高的期望。
EN:Don't set your expectations too low; you're capable of more.
翻譯:別把你的期望設得太低，你能做得更好。
在思考或組織想法時，用作填充詞，常以「The expectation is...」或「My expectation would be...」開頭。 EN: Well, the expectation is that we'll see some results by next quarter. 翻譯: 嗯，預期是我們在下一季會看到一些成果。
EN:My expectation would be... that they agree to the terms after some negotiation.
翻譯:我的預期會是…經過一些談判後他們會同意這些條款。
正式寫作注意：在正式或學術寫作中，應避免將「expectation」用作口語中的停頓填充詞。建議使用更精確的表述，如「It is anticipated that...」或「The projected outcome is...」，以保持語言的嚴謹性。
live up to expectations
verb + up to + expectation(s)
達到或符合期望
against all expectations
preposition + all + expectation(s)
出乎所有人的意料
set expectations
verb + expectation(s)
設定期望
beyond expectation
preposition + expectation
超出預期
manage expectations
verb + expectation(s)
管理期望
high expectations
adjective + expectation(s)
高期望
fall short of expectations
verb + short of + expectation(s)
未達期望
×I have a high expectation for the new job.
✓I have high expectations for the new job.
「expectation」在表示「期望、預期」時，通常使用複數形式「expectations」，尤其是在談論對未來事件或結果的期望時。單數形式多用於抽象概念或特定語境。
×My expectation to you is to finish the report by Friday.
✓My expectation of you is to finish the report by Friday.
表達「對某人的期望」時，正確的介系詞是「of」，而不是「to」。
×In expectation of the rain, we cancelled the picnic.
✓In anticipation of the rain, we cancelled the picnic.
「In expectation of」雖然語法正確，但較為正式且不常用於口語。表達「預料到某事會發生而提前做準備」時，更自然、常見的片語是「in anticipation of」。
×The expectation of life in this country is high.
✓Life expectancy in this country is high.
「預期壽命」有固定的專有名詞「life expectancy」，不應直譯為「expectation of life」。
×He came to the meeting with the expectation that we agree immediately.
✓He came to the meeting with the expectation that we would agree immediately.
在「expectation that...」引導的名詞子句中，若主句動詞為過去式，子句通常需使用過去時態（如 would agree, could finish）以保持時態一致，表示當時的期望。
×Against all expectation, the underdog team won the championship.
✓Against all expectations, the underdog team won the championship.
片語「against all expectations」（出乎所有人意料）中必須使用複數形式「expectations」。