出乎意料

chūhū-yìliào

idiom #9,656

Meanings

考试结果出乎意料地好。

Kǎoshì jiéguǒ chūhūyìliào de hǎo.

The exam results were unexpectedly good.

他的辞职出乎所有人的意料。

Tā de cízhí chūhū suǒyǒurén de yìliào.

His resignation was beyond everyone's expectation.

比赛的结局出乎意料。

Bǐsài de jiéjú chūhūyìliào.

The outcome of the match was unexpected.

grammar

Can be used as an adverbial with 地: 出乎意料地 + adjective. Can also be split: 出乎(某人的)意料, inserting whose expectation it exceeded.

usage

Similar to 意想不到 (yìxiǎngbúdào) and 没想到 (méi xiǎngdào), but 出乎意料 is more literary and formal.

出 chū

乎 hū

意 yì

料 liào