unexpectedly; to one's surprise
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesconjunction
unexpectedly; contrary to one's expectation
neutralUsed to introduce a result that is contrary to what the speaker previously thought or assumed, often placed at the start of a clause.
Chūn春
tiān天
suí随
biàn便
zāi栽
le了
jǐ几
kē棵
shù树
，
bù不
xiǎng想
quán全
dōu都
huó活
le了
。
I just planted a few trees casually in spring, and unexpectedly they all survived.
Wǒ我
yǐ以
wéi为
tā他
bù不
huì会
lái来
，
bù不
xiǎng想
tā他
jìng竟
rán然
tí提
qián前
dào到
le了
。
I thought he wouldn't come, but unexpectedly he arrived early.
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Běn本
lái来
dǎ打
suàn算
zhōu周
mò末
dāi待
zài在
jiā家
lǐ里
，
bù不
xiǎng想
tū突
rán然
yǒu有
péng朋
yǒu友
lái来
bài拜
fǎng访
。
I planned to stay home over the weekend, but unexpectedly a friend came to visit out of the blue.
Tā他
shuō说
zì自
jǐ己
bù不
huì会
yóu游
yǒng泳
，
bù不
xiǎng想
zài在
shuǐ水
lǐ里
yóu游
dé得
tè特
bié别
hǎo好
。
He said he couldn't swim, but he turned out to be a really good swimmer.
Wǒ我
tí提
qián前
bàn半
xiǎo小
shí时
dào到
le了
chē车
zhàn站
，
bù不
xiǎng想
huǒ火
chē车
wǎn晚
diǎn点
le了
yī一
gè个
xiǎo小
shí时
。
I arrived at the train station half an hour early, but unexpectedly the train was delayed for an hour.