意料之外

yìliàozhīwài

phrase

Meanings

Literally 'outside of expectations' - unexpected

HSK 4

他的成功完全在意料之外。

Tā de chénggōng wánquán zài yìliàozhīwài.

His success was completely unexpected.

HSK 4

这个结果是意料之外的。

Zhège jiéguǒ shì yìliàozhīwài de.

This result was unforeseen.

usage

The opposite is 意料之中 (yìliàozhīzhōng - within expectations, as expected). Also compare with 出乎意料 (chūhū yìliào) which has the same meaning.

意 yì

料 liào

之 zhī

外 wài