見積もり

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 見積もり is read as みつもり and is a noun for an estimate or provisional calculation of cost, time, quantity, or another requirement.
• Basic usage: Receiving a cost estimate appears in 費用の見積もりを受け取る, while a work-time estimate being too optimistic appears in 作業時間の見積もりが甘い.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A calculation made before the final result
  • It is a provisional figure based on available conditions before the actual cost, duration, or quantity is known.
• Difference from 予測
  • Unlike the broad term for forecasting a future situation, this word readily denotes a concrete estimate of cost, time, or workload.