1.
future prospects; outlook; what lies ahead
The way things are expected to develop in the future, especially regarding business, the economy, or a course of action. Often used to describe whether the future looks promising or uncertain.
先行きが不安だ。
The outlook is uncertain.
会社の先行きが心配される。
There is concern about the company's prospects.
原材料価格の上昇で、業界の先行きは不透明になっている。
With raw-material prices rising, the industry's outlook has become unclear.
Very common in business and economic news. Almost always followed by a word about clarity or confidence (明るい, 不透明, 不安, etc.) rather than appearing alone.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 先行きが明るい: the outlook is bright
- 先行きが暗い: the outlook is dark
- 先行き不透明: unclear prospects
- 先行き不安: worried about the future
- 先行きを見通す: to predict what lies ahead
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 見通し: outlook; forecast — broader; can refer to visibility itself or to a forecast
- 将来: the future — neutral and general, not specifically about how things will turn out