About
The character for "pre-" or "in advance" originally took the traditional form "預", which combines the phonetic component "予" (meaning "to give" or "self") with the semantic component "頁" (representing the head). This structure suggested an early meaning related to appearance or bearing, as in presenting oneself. Over time, the character's application shifted away from this concrete sense through a process of phonetic borrowing, coming to signify involvement or participation in an action. This abstract sense of being involved or included later narrowed further to specifically indicate an action undertaken beforehand, crystallizing into its modern core meaning of advance preparation or precedence. The contemporary simplified form "预" retains the original phonetic element "予" while replacing the semantic component with a simpler, conventionalized form.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我预习了课文。
我们预订了房间。
天气预报预测有雨。
医生建议预防感冒。
预计明天会下雨。
他预言未来会更好。
我们必须预先准备材料。
通过数据分析，我们可以预测市场趋势。