Chinese Conversation · Level 68
90 words
Chinese word
出人意料
Pronunciation
Pinyinchū rén yì liào
Meaning
- idiomunexpected
Example
他的成绩出人意料，比想象的好。tā de chéng jì chū rén yì liào bǐ xiǎng xiàng de hǎo
His grades were better than expected.
More examples
这次比赛的结果出人意料，冠军是新人。zhè cì bǐ sài de jié guǒ chū rén yì liào guàn jūn shì xīn rén
The result of this competition was unexpected; the champion was a newcomer.
Core concept
A result lands beyond the boundary of what people have mentally prepared for.
Common phrases
出人意料的结果chū rén yì liào de jié guǒ
unexpected result
出人意料的反应chū rén yì liào de fǎn yìng
unexpected reaction
出人意料的发现chū rén yì liào de fā xiàn
unexpected discovery
Similar words
出乎意料chū hū yì liào: Describes a surprising event or result that exceeds ordinary expectations.
意料之外yì liào zhī wài: Describes a situation or result not included in the expected possibilities, causing surprise.
意想不到yì xiǎng bú dào: Describes an event or result that had not entered people's thoughts.
Definition in Chinese
表示超出大众预料、令人惊讶的情况或结果biǎo shì chāo chū dà zhòng yù liào lìng rén jīng yà de qíng kuàng huò jié guǒ
Word origin
The idiom is built from 出 (chū, "go beyond"), 人 (rén, "people"), and 意料 (yìliào, "expectation"), presenting the result as outside the expectation held by people.
Usage tips
- The idiom can stand as a predicate after a subject, whereas the closest English adjective usually needs a linking verb in that position.
Opposites
- 意料之中yì liào zhī zhōngas expectedidiom
Related words
- 出人意料地chū rén yì liào dìunexpectedlyadverb