Chinese word

意外

Pronunciation

Pinyinyì wài

Meaning

  • adjectiveunexpected

Example

这个消息让我意外。zhè ge xiāo xī ràng wǒ yì wài

This news surprised me.

Illustration for 意外 (unexpected)

More examples

他的决定让大家很意外。tā de jué dìng ràng dà jiā hěn yì wài

His decision surprised everyone.

Core concept

A gap between what is expected and what actually happens, felt as surprise or seen as a mishap.

Common phrases

  • 感到意外gǎn dào yì wài

    be surprised

  • 让人意外ràng rén yì wài

    be surprising

  • 有点意外yóu diǎn yì wài

    a little unexpected

Similar words

吃惊chī jīng: Describes being suddenly startled by an unexpected event.
惊讶jīng yà: Describes a surprised or puzzled feeling about an unanticipated situation.
意想不到yì xiǎng bú dào: Describes something that no one had predicted or imagined would happen.
惊奇jīng qí: Describes a feeling of wonder and interest at something strange or unusual.

Definition in Chinese

出乎意料的情况或感受；可作形容词表示惊讶，也可作名词指发生的意外事件。chū hū yì liào de qíng kuàng huò gǎn shòu kě zuò xíng róng cí biǎo shì jīng yà yě kě zuò míng cí zhǐ fā shēng de yì wài shì jiàn

Word origin

The compound 意外 (yìwài, "unexpected") joins 意 (yì, "thought") with 外 (wài, "outside"), so its basic picture is an event outside the mind's plan.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, the adjective sense often describes a person's reaction, whereas the noun sense refers to an event, so the surrounding sentence is especially important.

Other meanings

  • unexpectedlyadverb
  • accidentnoun

Related words

  • 意外地yì wài dìunexpectedlyadverb
  • 意外性yì wài xìngunexpectednessnoun

Word lists with this word