Korean word

의외로

Pronunciation

Romanizationuioero

Meaning

  • adverbsurprisingly

Example

그 음식이 의외로 맛있었어.keu eum si gi ui oe ro ma si sseo sseo

The food was surprisingly delicious.

Illustration for 의외로 (surprisingly)

More examples

날씨가 의외로 따뜻했다.nal ssi ga ui oe ro tta tteu taet tta

The weather was surprisingly warm.

Core concept

Something turns out differently from the picture formed in advance, often in a pleasing or striking way.

Common phrases

  • 의외로 맛있다ui oe ro ma sit tta

    surprisingly delicious

  • 의외로 쉽다ui oe ro swip tta

    surprisingly easy

  • 의외로 조용하다ui oe ro cho yong ha da

    surprisingly quiet

Similar words

생각보다saenggakppoda: A quality or amount is different from what was expected.
뜻밖에tteutppakke: An unexpected event or result briefly causes surprise.
예상외로yesangoero: A result or situation differs from the forecast in a neutral report.

Definition in Korean

예상이나 기대에서 어긋나서 뜻밖의 결과가 드러날 때 쓰이는 부사.ye sang i na ki dae e seo eo geun na seo tteut ppa kkui kyeol gwa ga teu reo nal ttae sseu i neun pu sa

Word origin

The Sino-Korean base means outside expectation, and the particle -ro turns that idea into an adverbial expression meaning surprisingly.

Usage tips

  • English speakers can use this word when a result is unexpected without assuming that it is bad or unpleasant.

Opposites

Related words

  • 의외uioeunexpectednessnoun
  • 의외스럽다uioeseureopttaunexpectedadjective

Word lists with this word