unexpectedly; contrary to expectation
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Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesadverb
unexpectedly; contrary to what was anticipated
formalDescribes a situation or result that occurs without being planned or foreseen. Often used in formal or literary contexts. Variant form: 不期而然 (bù qī ér rán).
Zhè这
cì次
lǚ旅
xíng行
běn本
xiǎng想
kàn看
xuě雪
，
què却
bù不
qī期
rán然
ér而
rán然
gǎn赶
shàng上
le了
yīng樱
huā花
shèng盛
kāi开
。
I had intended to see snow on this trip, but unexpectedly, I arrived just in time for the cherry blossoms to be in full bloom.
Liǎng两
zhī支
ruò弱
lǚ旅
zài在
jué决
sài赛
zhōng中
xiāng相
yù遇
，
jié结
guǒ果
bù不
qī期
rán然
ér而
rán然
，
dào倒
chéng成
le了
běn本
jiè届
bǐ比
sài赛
zuì最
dà大
de的
kàn看
diǎn点
。
Two underdog teams met in the finals; unexpectedly, this became the biggest highlight of the tournament.
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Zhè这
běn本
shì是
jiàn件
xiǎo小
shì事
，
bù不
qī期
rán然
ér而
rán然
jìng竟
yǐn引
fā发
le了
yī一
chǎng场
jī激
liè烈
de的
tǎo讨
lùn论
。
This was originally a minor issue, but unexpectedly, it triggered a heated debate.