synonym Comparative
意外に
VS
期せずして
Differences Between "意外に" and "期せずして"
Option A
意外に
Meaning
surprisingly, unexpectedly
Reading
いがいに (igai ni)
Syllabus Level
N3
Practical Example
その映画は期待していなかったが、意外に面白かった。
I didn't expect much from that movie, but it was surprisingly interesting.
Option B
期せずして
Meaning
unexpectedly, by chance, coincidentally
Reading
きせずして (kisezu shite)
Syllabus Level
N2
Practical Example
彼とは期せずして同じ列車に乗り合わせた。
I unexpectedly happened to be on the same train as him.
Which one to use?
Select the correct Japanese word for this context
Which word fits this context: "(surprisingly, unexpectedly)"?
🎉 正解 / Correct!
使い分け解説:
- 意外に: Used to express that something is different from what was expected. It often modifies a verb or an adjective. e.g., 「意外に難しい」(igai ni muzukashii - surprisingly difficult)
- 期せずして: An adverbial phrase indicating that something happened without being planned or expected. More formal than 偶然 (guuzen). (前もって期待したり計画したりしていなかったのに、偶然に何か出来事が起こる様子を表します。)
- 意外に: Used to express that something is different from what was expected. It often modifies a verb or an adjective. e.g., 「意外に難しい」(igai ni muzukashii - surprisingly difficult)
- 期せずして: An adverbial phrase indicating that something happened without being planned or expected. More formal than 偶然 (guuzen). (前もって期待したり計画したりしていなかったのに、偶然に何か出来事が起こる様子を表します。)
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