anticipation

Compared meaning: hope or belief about something that will happen (noun).

比较义项：对将要发生的事的期待、预期（名词）。

• expectation

  Expectation stresses a belief that something will or should happen, often implying a standard to be met; it can be neutral or demanding, as in phrases like 「high expectations」 or 「meet expectations」.

  expectation强调相信某事将会或应该发生，往往暗示一种应当达到的标准；语气可以是中性的，也可以带有要求的意味，常见于「high expectations」（很高的期望）、「meet expectations」（达到期望）这类搭配中。

  Her parents had high expectations for her final grades.

  她的父母对她的期末成绩抱有很高的期望。

• anticipation 本词

  Anticipation stresses an excited, eager feeling of looking forward to something pleasant that is about to happen; it carries no sense of demand or standard, only positive emotional expectancy.

  anticipation强调对即将发生的、令人愉快的事情怀着兴奋、急切盼望的心情；不带有要求或标准的意味，只是一种积极的情绪期待。

  The children waited with great anticipation for the birthday party to start.

  孩子们怀着极大的期盼等待生日派对开始。

Expectation and anticipation both mean looking forward to something in the future. Expectation is more rational: a belief that something will or should happen, often implying a standard, and can sound neutral or demanding. Anticipation is more emotional: an excited, eager feeling about something pleasant.

这两个词都表示对未来事情的“期待”，但expectation更偏理性判断，常隐含“应当达到的标准”，语气可以是中性的，也可以带有要求的意味；anticipation更偏感性，强调兴奋、期盼的情绪，多用于令人愉快、值得盼望的事情。