意想不到

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: yì xiǎng bú dào
• English Translation: Unexpected, surprising, unforeseen
• Idiom Composition: 「意」（Thought, idea）＋「想」（To think, to expect）＋「不」（Not）＋「到」（To reach, to arrive at）
• Meaning: Something that was not anticipated happens. It refers to unexpected events or outcomes, often carrying a nuance of surprise or unpredictability.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「意想不到」 contains the following nuances:

• Unexpected events: Expresses situations where something completely unanticipated or considered unlikely occurs.
• Surprise: Often involves feelings of surprise in response to unexpected events.
• Used for both positive and negative contexts: Can be used in both positive and negative contexts, such as unexpected good or bad outcomes.

3. Usage

「意想不到」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Outcome of events: Used to express that the result of an event was unexpected.
  • Example:「这次考试的成绩真是意想不到，他竟然得了第一名。」
    （The results of this exam were truly unexpected; he actually got first place.）
• Change in situation: Used to indicate that a situation changed in an unexpected way.
  • Example:「意想不到，这场突如其来的大雨打乱了我们的计划。」
    （Unexpectedly, this sudden heavy rain disrupted our plans.）
• Actions of a person: Used to describe when a person's actions are unexpected.
  • Example:「他在比赛中的表现让人意想不到，竟然赢得了冠军。」
    （His performance in the competition was unexpected, and he actually won the championship.）

Additional Examples:

1. 意想不到，这本书的内容如此深刻，让人深思。
   （Unexpectedly, the content of this book was very profound and thought-provoking.）
2. 意想不到，她竟然在关键时刻提出了一个绝妙的解决方案。
   （Unexpectedly, she proposed an excellent solution at a critical moment.）
3. 他的成功来得意想不到，让所有人都大吃一惊。
   （His success came unexpectedly, surprising everyone.）
4. 这次旅行中，我们遇到了很多意想不到的困难。
   （During this trip, we encountered many unexpected difficulties.）
5. 听到这个消息，我感到意想不到的喜悦。
   （Upon hearing this news, I felt an unexpected joy.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• '意想不到' is a relatively formal expression commonly used in both written and spoken language. While '想不到' has a similar meaning, '意想不到' carries a stronger emphasis on the unexpected nature of something.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 出乎意料 (chū hū yì liào): To be unexpected.
  • 出人意料 (chū rén yì liào): To be unexpected.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 意料之中 (yì liào zhī zhōng): As expected, within anticipation.

6. Summary

'意想不到' is a versatile idiom used widely from daily conversations to business contexts. Using this phrase effectively expresses surprise and the unexpected nature of events.