yùyán: 预言 - Prophecy, Prediction [The Contextual Chinese Dictionary]

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====== yùyán: 预言 - Prophecy, Prediction ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** 预言, yùyán, Chinese prophecy, predict in Chinese, Chinese prediction, fortune telling in Chinese, foretell, oracle, Chinese mythology, ancient prophecies, make a prediction.
  * **Summary:** The Chinese word **预言 (yùyán)** translates to "prophecy" or "prediction." It's a term rich with cultural and historical weight, used to describe everything from ancient mystical oracles that shaped dynasties to modern, serious forecasts about the economy or technology. Understanding **预言 (yùyán)** offers a glimpse into how Chinese culture views the future, fate, and the patterns of history. It is a more formal and significant term than a simple guess, often implying deep insight or a momentous outcome.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** yùyán
  * **Part of Speech:** Noun, Verb
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 6
  * **Concise Definition:** A statement that foretells a future event; a prophecy or prediction.
  * **In a Nutshell:** Think of `预言` as the Chinese equivalent of "prophecy." It carries a sense of gravity and significance. It's not for predicting the weather tomorrow, but for foretelling major events, the fate of a nation, or a dramatic turn in someone's life. When used as a verb, it means "to prophesy" or "to predict" in a very formal or serious manner.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **预 (yù):** This character means "in advance," "beforehand," or "to prepare." It's a common prefix in Chinese that functions like "pre-" in English (e.g., 预习 (yùxí) - to preview). It signifies that something is done ahead of time.
  * **言 (yán):** This character means "word," "speech," or "to say." The character itself is a pictogram of a mouth with a tongue, representing speech.
  * The characters combine logically to mean "words (言) spoken in advance (预)," perfectly capturing the essence of a prophecy or prediction.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
In China, `预言` has a deep and storied history, often intertwined with politics, philosophy, and folklore. For millennia, prophecies were not just idle speculation; they were seen as revelations about the "Mandate of Heaven" (天命, Tiānmìng), the divine right for emperors to rule. A well-timed `预言` could legitimize a new dynasty or signal the downfall of a corrupt one.
Famous books of prophecy, like the //推背图 (Tuī Bèi Tú)// from the Tang Dynasty, are sometimes called the "Chinese Nostradamus." They contain cryptic verses and images said to foretell the future of China.
  * **Comparison with Western "Prophecy":** While Western prophecy is often associated with a single, omniscient God revealing a divine plan through prophets (e.g., in the Bible), Chinese `预言` is often more connected to observing the cyclical patterns of history, the cosmos, and the Dao. It can be mystical, but it's also rooted in a belief that the future can be discerned by understanding the profound patterns of the past and present. It is less about a final destiny and more about the natural unfolding of events.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
While its mystical origins are ancient, `预言` is still a relevant word in modern Chinese.
  * **Historical and Literary Context:** It is commonly used when discussing history, myths, fantasy novels, or movies. For example, "The prophecy said a hero would rise."
  * **Formal Predictions:** In a serious context, it can be used for significant, high-stakes predictions made by experts. For instance, an economist might make a `预言` about a future market crash, or a scientist might `预言` the consequences of climate change. This usage lends an air of gravity and certainty to the prediction.
  * **Dramatic or Figurative Use:** In everyday conversation, people might use it with a hint of drama or humor. If you correctly guess the winner of a competition against all odds, you might exclaim, "My prophecy came true!" (我的预言成真了!).
It is generally a formal and neutral-to-serious term. For casual guesses, words like `猜 (cāi)` or `估计 (gūjì)` are far more common.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 很多古老的文化中都有关于世界末日的**预言**。
    * Pinyin: Hěnduō gǔlǎo de wénhuà zhōng dōu yǒu guānyú shìjiè mòrì de **yùyán**.
    * English: Many ancient cultures have prophecies about the end of the world.
    * Analysis: This is a classic use of `预言`, referring to grand, historical, or mythological prophecies.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 经济学家的**预言**是，明年市场将会复苏。
    * Pinyin: Jīngjìxuéjiā de **yùyán** shì, míngnián shìchǎng jiānghuì fùsū.
    * English: The economist's prediction is that the market will recover next year.
    * Analysis: Here, `预言` is used for a formal, expert prediction. It implies more confidence and research than a simple guess.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 他在书里**预言**了网络时代的到来。
    * Pinyin: Tā zài shū lǐ **yùyán** le wǎngluò shídài de dàolái.
    * English: He prophesied the arrival of the internet age in his book.
    * Analysis: This sentence uses `预言` as a verb, "to prophesy" or "to predict." It's used because the prediction was visionary and made far in advance.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 哈哈，我的**预言**成真了！我们队果然赢了！
    * Pinyin: Hāhā, wǒ de **yùyán** chéngzhēn le! Wǒmen duì guǒrán yíng le!
    * English: Haha, my prophecy came true! Our team really did win!
    * Analysis: This is an example of the informal, slightly dramatic usage. The speaker is exaggerating for humorous effect. `成真 (chéngzhēn)` means "to become true" and is often paired with `预言`.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 这不是**预言**，这只是基于当前数据的科学分析。
    * Pinyin: Zhè búshì **yùyán**, zhè zhǐshì jīyú dāngqián shùjù de kēxué fēnxī.
    * English: This isn't a prophecy, it's just a scientific analysis based on current data.
    * Analysis: This sentence highlights the distinction between a mystical `预言` and a data-driven analysis.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 有些人相信，一些古老的**预言**正在我们眼前一一实现。
    * Pinyin: Yǒuxiē rén xiāngxìn, yīxiē gǔlǎo de **yùyán** zhèngzài wǒmen yǎnqián yīyī shíxiàn.
    * English: Some people believe that some ancient prophecies are being fulfilled one by one before our very eyes.
    * Analysis: `实现 (shíxiàn)` means "to realize" or "to achieve," and is another common verb paired with `预言`.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 我不相信任何形式的**预言**，我相信未来掌握在自己手中。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ bù xiāngxìn rènhé xíngshì de **yùyán**, wǒ xiāngxìn wèilái zhǎngwò zài zìjǐ shǒuzhōng.
    * English: I don't believe in any form of prophecy; I believe the future is in my own hands.
    * Analysis: This sentence shows a skeptical viewpoint, contrasting `预言` with the idea of free will.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 这是一个自我实现的**预言**：因为你相信你会失败，所以你最终真的失败了。
    * Pinyin: Zhè shì yí ge zìwǒ shíxiàn de **yùyán**: yīnwèi nǐ xiāngxìn nǐ huì shībài, suǒyǐ nǐ zuìzhōng zhēn de shībài le.
    * English: This is a self-fulfilling prophecy: because you believed you would fail, you ultimately did.
    * Analysis: The term "self-fulfilling prophecy" translates directly and cleanly into Chinese using `预言`.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 那位大师的**预言**后来被证明是完全错误的。
    * Pinyin: Nà wèi dàshī de **yùyán** hòulái bèi zhèngmíng shì wánquán cuòwù de.
    * English: That master's prophecy was later proven to be completely wrong.
    * Analysis: Shows that a `预言` is not infallible and can be proven false.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 在那部奇幻小说里，主角的命运被一个古老的**预言**所束缚。
    * Pinyin: Zài nà bù qíhuàn xiǎoshuō lǐ, zhǔjué de mìngyùn bèi yí ge gǔlǎo de **yùyán** suǒ shùfù.
    * English: In that fantasy novel, the protagonist's destiny was bound by an ancient prophecy.
    * Analysis: A typical literary usage, highlighting the role of prophecy in storytelling and fate.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
The most common mistake for learners is confusing `预言` with similar-sounding words for "prediction."
  * **`预言 (yùyán)` vs. `预测 (yùcè)`:** This is the most important distinction.
    * `预言 (yùyán)` is a **prophecy**. It's often grand, mystical, or a visionary statement about the distant future. It implies insight beyond normal data.
    * `预测 (yùcè)` is a **forecast** or **prediction**. It's based on data, calculation, and scientific models. It's used for weather, economics, sports results, etc.
    * **Incorrect:** ~~今天的天气**预言**说会下雨。~~ (Today's weather prophecy says it will rain.)
    * **Correct:** 今天的天气**预测**说会下雨。 (Today's weather forecast says it will rain.) (Even better is 天气**预报** (yùbào), which specifically means "weather report/forecast.")
  * **`预言 (yùyán)` vs. `猜 (cāi)`:**
    * `预言 (yùyán)` is a serious, formal prediction.
    * `猜 (cāi)` is a casual **guess**.
    * **Incorrect:** ~~我**预言**我们今晚吃比萨。~~ (I prophesy we're having pizza tonight.)
    * **Correct:** 我**猜**我们今晚吃比萨。 (I guess we're having pizza tonight.)
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[预测]] (yùcè) - A forecast or prediction, typically based on data or scientific analysis. More modern and less mystical than `预言`.
  * [[预报]] (yùbào) - A forecast, almost exclusively used for weather (天气预报).
  * [[算命]] (suànmìng) - Fortune-telling. The act of predicting an individual's personal life, wealth, and health. It is personal, whereas `预言` is often grander.
  * [[占卜]] (zhānbǔ) - Divination. The formal practice of seeking knowledge of the future through supernatural means, like using oracle bones or the I Ching (易经).
  * [[先知]] (xiānzhī) - A prophet or seer. The person who makes the `预言`.
  * [[天命]] (Tiānmìng) - The Mandate of Heaven. The philosophical concept that a ruler's right to rule is granted by heaven, a concept often tied to signs and prophecies.
  * [[推背图]] (Tuī Bèi Tú) - A famous and cryptic 7th-century Chinese prophecy text, often compared to the works of Nostradamus.
  * [[乌鸦嘴]] (wūyāzuǐ) - Lit. "crow's beak." A colloquial term for a jinx; a person whose pessimistic predictions unfortunately come true. The informal, negative counterpart to a seer.