Japanese Conversation · Level 25
90 words
Japanese word
案外
Pronunciation
Romajiangai
Meaning
- adverbsurprisingly
Example
その店は案外安いです。so no mise wa an gai yasu i de su
The store is surprisingly cheap.
More examples
駅から学校までは案外近いです。eki ka ra gak kō ma de wa an gai chika i de su
The school is surprisingly close to the station.
Core concept
Shows that reality differs from an assumption, often with a mild sense of surprise.
Common phrases
案外おいしいan gai o i shi i
surprisingly delicious
案外大きいan gai ō ki i
surprisingly large
案外よく使うan gai yo ku tsuka u
use surprisingly often
Similar words
存外zongai: Describes a degree or result that is greater or less than expected in formal usage.
思いのほかomoinohoka: Shows that the degree or extent of something differs from what was expected.
思いがけずomoigakezu: Describes an event that was not anticipated beforehand.
Definition in Japanese
予想や思い込みに反して、実際の状態や結果がそうではないさま。yo sō ya omo i ko mi ni han shi te jis sai no jō tai ya kek ka ga sō de wa na i sa ma
Word origin
案外 (angai) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 案 (an, "plan" or "expectation") and 外 (gai, "outside"), referring to something beyond an expected outcome.
Usage tips
- 案外 (angai) can describe either a better or a worse result than expected, so its meaning depends on the situation rather than expressing praise or criticism.