yùgào: 预告 - To announce in advance; Preview; Trailer; Notice

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• Summary: 预告 (yùgào) is a common and practical Chinese word that means “to announce in advance.” It is most frequently translated as “preview,” “trailer,” or “advance notice.” This versatile term is used in many contexts, from seeing a movie trailer (电影预告) or a TV show preview, to receiving an official notice about a planned power outage or a coming typhoon. Understanding 预告 is key to interpreting media and public information in modern China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yùgào
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To give advance notice or a preview of something.
• In a Nutshell: Think of 预告 as any kind of “heads-up” or “coming soon” announcement. It's the trailer you watch before a movie, the teaser for the next episode of a TV series, or the official bulletin about an upcoming event. The core concept is providing information before something happens, either to build anticipation or to allow people to prepare.

• 预 (yù): This character means “in advance,” “beforehand,” or “to prepare.” It signifies doing something ahead of time. Think of it as the “pre-” in “preview.”
• 告 (gào): This character means “to tell,” “to announce,” or “to inform.” The character's ancient form shows a mouth (口) under an ox horn (牛), which was historically used like a trumpet to make public announcements.
• Together, 预 (in advance) + 告 (to announce) literally means “to announce in advance.” This combination perfectly captures the modern meaning of a preview, trailer, or advance notice.

While 预告 is a functional term, its use reflects how information is structured and disseminated in China. In the West, a “preview” is overwhelmingly associated with entertainment. In China, while this is also true, the use of 预告 for official, top-down announcements is very prominent and carries significant weight. When the government or a state-owned utility issues a 预告 (e.g., a typhoon warning or notice of a planned power outage), it's seen as a definitive and authoritative piece of information. This contrasts with Western cultures where such information might come from a wider, more fragmented array of private and public sources. The term, therefore, occupies a space that is both commercial (building hype for a movie) and civic (ensuring public order and safety), highlighting the importance of formal, advanced communication in public life.

预告 is a high-frequency word you will encounter daily. It can be used as a noun (a trailer, a notice) or a verb (to announce in advance).

• Entertainment and Media: This is the most common context. You'll see it everywhere for films, TV shows, and video games.
  • `电影预告 (diànyǐng yùgào)` - Movie trailer
  • `新剧预告 (xīnjù yùgào)` - New TV show preview
• Official Announcements: Government bodies and companies use it to inform the public about upcoming events or changes. This usage is generally formal.
  • `停水预告 (tíngshuǐ yùgào)` - Advance notice of a water stoppage
  • `台风预告 (táifēng yùgào)` - Typhoon warning/notice
• Product Launches & Marketing: Companies use 预告 to create buzz for new products.
  • `新品预告 (xīnpǐn yùgào)` - New product preview/teaser
• Figurative Usage: It can be used metaphorically to mean a “sign” or “omen” of things to come.
  • This usage suggests that a small event is a preview of a larger, future event.

• Example 1:
  • 我刚看了这部新电影的预告片，看起来非常精彩！
  • Pinyin: Wǒ gāng kànle zhè bù xīn diànyǐng de yùgào piàn, kàn qǐlái fēicháng jīngcǎi!
  • English: I just watched the trailer for this new movie, it looks amazing!
  • Analysis: Here, `预告片 (yùgào piàn)` is a compound noun meaning “trailer” (literally “preview-film-slice”). This is the most common way to say “movie trailer.”
• Example 2:
  • 电视台预告了下周将要播出的一部新纪录片。
  • Pinyin: Diànshìtái yùgào le xià zhōu jiāng yào bōchū de yī bù xīn jìlùpiàn.
  • English: The TV station announced a new documentary that will be broadcast next week.
  • Analysis: In this sentence, 预告 is used as a verb, meaning “to announce in advance” or “to preview.”
• Example 3:
  • 小区物业贴出了下个月计划停电的预告。
  • Pinyin: Xiǎoqū wùyè tiē chūle xià gè yuè jìhuà tíngdiàn de yùgào.
  • English: The residential community's management posted an advance notice about the planned power outage for next month.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the formal, public-facing use of 预告 as a noun meaning “advance notice.”
• Example 4:
  • 这次小小的争吵，仿佛是他们未来更大矛盾的预告。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì xiǎo xiǎo de zhēngchǎo, fǎngfú shì tāmen wèilái gèng dà máodùn de yùgào.
  • English: This small argument seemed to be a preview of their much larger conflicts in the future.
  • Analysis: This is a great example of the figurative use of 预告, where it means a “foreshadowing” or an “omen.”
• Example 5:
  • 游戏公司发布了新版本的预告，吸引了大量玩家。
  • Pinyin: Yóuxì gōngsī fābùle xīn bǎnběn de yùgào, xīyǐnle dàliàng wánjiā.
  • English: The game company released a trailer for the new version, attracting a huge number of players.
  • Analysis: This shows the word's use in the modern context of digital media and marketing.
• Example 6:
  • 天气预报预告，明天将有大雪。
  • Pinyin: Tiānqì yùbào yùgào, míngtiān jiāng yǒu dàxuě.
  • English: The weather forecast announced that there will be heavy snow tomorrow.
  • Analysis: While `天气预报 (tiānqì yùbào)` is the set phrase for “weather forecast,” the verb 预告 can be used to describe the action of announcing it.
• Example 7:
  • 作者在社交媒体上预告了她新书的发布日期。
  • Pinyin: Zuòzhě zài shèjiāo méitǐ shàng yùgào le tā xīn shū de fābù rìqī.
  • English: The author announced the release date of her new book on social media.
  • Analysis: This shows 预告 used as a verb in the context of personal announcements and social media.
• Example 8:
  • 音乐节的官方网站上已经有了演出阵容的预告。
  • Pinyin: Yīnyuè jié de guānfāng wǎngzhàn shàng yǐjīng yǒule yǎnchū zhènróng de yùgào.
  • English: There is already a preview of the performance lineup on the music festival's official website.
  • Analysis: 预告 as a noun, referring to a preview of information rather than a video trailer.
• Example 9:
  • 没有任何预告，老板突然宣布了公司要搬家。
  • Pinyin: Méiyǒu rènhé yùgào, lǎobǎn túrán xuānbùle gōngsī yào bānjiā.
  • English: Without any advance notice, the boss suddenly announced that the company was moving.
  • Analysis: This example highlights the importance of a 预告 by showing a situation where one was expected but not given.
• Example 10:
  • 这只是一个简短的预告，更多细节将在下周公布。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhǐshì yīgè jiǎnduǎn de yùgào, gèng duō xìjié jiàng zài xià zhōu gōngbù.
  • English: This is just a brief preview; more details will be announced next week.
  • Analysis: A very practical sentence that clearly defines the function of a 预告: a preliminary announcement before the full information is released.

• 预告 (yùgào) vs. 预报 (yùbào): This is a critical distinction for learners.
  • 预告 (yùgào) is an announcement of a planned or upcoming event (a movie, a meeting, a power outage).
  • 预报 (yùbào) is a forecast based on data and analysis, for something uncertain.
  • Correct: `天气预报 (tiānqì yùbào)` - Weather forecast.
  • Incorrect: `天气预告 (tiānqì yùgào)`. While you might hear a news anchor use `预告` as a verb to introduce the forecast, the noun for the report itself is always `预报`. Think: a forecast is a scientific prediction, not just a simple announcement.
• 预告 (yùgào) vs. 通知 (tōngzhī):
  • 预告 is a “heads-up” or “preview.” It comes before the main event or the full information. It often builds anticipation.
  • 通知 (tōngzhī) is the “notice” or “notification” itself. It is the direct communication of information.
  • Example: You might see a 预告 that new company rules will be announced next month. When the rules are finalized, you will receive a 通知 detailing what they are. 预告 is the “coming soon,” while 通知 is the “here it is.”

• 预报 (yùbào) - A forecast, especially for weather or the economy. It implies prediction based on data.
• 通知 (tōngzhī) - A notice or notification. More direct and informational than a preview.
• 广告 (guǎnggào) - An advertisement. A movie `预告` is a form of `广告`, but `广告` is a much broader term.
• 宣布 (xuānbù) - To declare or announce formally. A `预告` often comes before an official `宣布`.
• 预定 (yùdìng) - To book or reserve in advance. Shares the `预` (in advance) character and concept.
• 预言 (yùyán) - A prophecy or prediction. Much stronger and more serious, often with a sense of fate or the supernatural.
• 剧透 (jùtòu) - A spoiler (literally “story-reveal”). What you try to avoid after seeing a `预告`!
• 海报 (hǎibào) - A poster. A visual tool often used along with a `预告` to promote an event or film.
• 提前 (tíqián) - An adverb meaning “in advance” or “ahead of schedule.” It describes the timing of an action (e.g., `我提前完成了 - I finished ahead of schedule.`).