1.
foresight; prescience; far-sightedness
The ability to foresee future events or trends and act accordingly. Used to praise someone's wisdom in anticipating what would happen.
彼には先見の明があった。
He had foresight.
先見の明がある経営者は少ない。
Few business leaders have true foresight.
あの時にこの技術に投資した社長は、先見の明があったと言えるだろう。
You could say the CEO who invested in this technology back then had real foresight.
A classical expression combining 先見 (seeing ahead) and 明 (clarity, wisdom). Literally "the wisdom of seeing ahead."
USAGE:
Almost always used in the set phrase 先見の明がある (to have foresight). Typically used retrospectively — praising someone's past decision that turned out to be wise. Common in business, politics, and historical commentary.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 先見の明がある — to have foresight
- 先見の明に富む — to be rich in foresight
- 先見の明に欠ける — to lack foresight
RELATED TERMS:
- 洞察力 — insight; the ability to see into the essence of things
- 見通し — outlook, prospect; a prediction of future developments
- 慧眼 — discerning eye; literary term for keen judgment