Bilingual Guide
Unexpectedly
Comprehensive Japanese translation guide for the word "unexpectedly".
How to say in Japanese
突然
とつぜん (totsuzen)
N4
suddenly, unexpectedly
突然、雨が降り始めた。
Suddenly, it started to rain.
急に
きゅうに (kyū ni)
N3
suddenly; abruptly; unexpectedly
急に雨が降り出した。
It suddenly started raining.
案外
あんがい (angai)
N3
unexpectedly, surprisingly
このテストは案外簡単だった。
This test was surprisingly easy.
たまたま
たまたま (tamatama)
N3
by chance, accidentally, unexpectedly
駅でたまたま昔の友達に会った。
I accidentally met an old friend at the station.
意外に
いがいに (igai ni)
N3
surprisingly, unexpectedly
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.
割合に
わりあいに (wari'ai ni)
N2
relatively, comparatively, unexpectedly
今日の試験は、割合に簡単だった。
Today's exam was relatively easy.
思いのほか
おもいのほか (omoi no hoka)
N2
unexpectedly; contrary to expectations; surprisingly
試験は思いのほか難しかった。
The exam was unexpectedly difficult.
期せずして
きせずして (kisezu shite)
N2
unexpectedly, by chance, coincidentally
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.
図らずも
はからずも (hakarazumo)
N2
unexpectedly, by chance, unintentionally, against one's will/expectation
図らずも、昔の友人と駅で再会した。
Unexpectedly, I reunited with an old friend at the station.
思いがけず
おもいがけず (omoigakezu)
N2
unexpectedly, by chance, contrary to expectations
思いがけず昔の友人に会った。
I unexpectedly met an old friend.
はからずも
はからずも (hakarazumo)
N2
unexpectedly; by chance; without planning
はからずも、幼なじみと旅先で再会した。
Unexpectedly, I reunited with a childhood friend while traveling.
にわかに
にわかに (niwakani)
B2
suddenly, unexpectedly
私はにわかにに興味があります。
I am interested in suddenly, unexpectedly.
ばったり
ばったり (battari)
B2
by chance, unexpectedly
私はばったりに興味があります。
I am interested in by chance, unexpectedly.
ことのほか
ことのほか (kotonohoka)
C1
exceptionally, unexpectedly
私はことのほかに興味があります。
I am interested in exceptionally, unexpectedly.
帥爾
しゅつじ
C2PLUS
suddenly; unexpectedly; abruptly
私は帥爾に興味があります。
I am interested in suddenly; unexpectedly; abruptly.
Vocabulary Practice Quiz
Choose the most natural Japanese translation for this context:
突然 ... (unexpectedly)
🎉 正解 / Correct!
Context Nuance:
- 突然: Used to describe something that happens quickly and without warning. Can be used as an adverb or with 「の」 as an adjective (e.g., 突然の雨).
- 急に: An adverb indicating that something happened abruptly, without warning, or in a very short amount of time. (何かが前触れなく、突然、または非常に短い時間で起こる様子を表す副詞です。)
- 案外: 思ったより、予想と違ってという意味で使われます。Something is different from what one expected or imagined.
- たまたま: Used when something happens coincidentally or unexpectedly, often implying a slight element of surprise. Similar to 偶然 (gūzen), but たまたま often emphasizes the unexpectedness more. (偶然や思いがけない出来事を表す際に使われます。偶然よりも予期せぬニュアンスを含むことが多いです。)
- 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)
- 割合に: Indicates that something is more or less than expected, or in comparison to something else. Often used adverbially. Can also be 「割と」「割合と」.
- 思いのほか: Indicates that something turned out differently or to a greater or lesser degree than one had anticipated. Can convey pleasant or unpleasant surprise.
- 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。)
- 図らずも: An adverb used to describe something that happened without prior planning or intention, often with an element of surprise, coincidence, or serendipity. It emphasizes the lack of conscious effort or expectation.
- 思いがけず: Describes an event or situation that was not anticipated or planned. (予想していなかった出来事や状況を表す際に使われる)
- はからずも: Expresses that something happened by chance or contrary to one's expectations or intentions. More formal than 偶然 (gūzen).
- にわかに: Essential structural term in CEFR B2 vocabulary syllabus. (CEFR B2語彙シラバスにおける重要表現です。)
- ばったり: Essential structural term in CEFR B2 vocabulary syllabus. (CEFR B2語彙シラバスにおける重要表現です。)
- ことのほか: Essential structural term in CEFR C1 vocabulary syllabus. (CEFR C1語彙シラバスにおける重要表現です。)
- 帥爾: Essential structural term in CEFR C2PLUS vocabulary syllabus. (CEFR C2PLUS語彙シラバスにおける重要表現です。)
- 突然: Used to describe something that happens quickly and without warning. Can be used as an adverb or with 「の」 as an adjective (e.g., 突然の雨).
- 急に: An adverb indicating that something happened abruptly, without warning, or in a very short amount of time. (何かが前触れなく、突然、または非常に短い時間で起こる様子を表す副詞です。)
- 案外: 思ったより、予想と違ってという意味で使われます。Something is different from what one expected or imagined.
- たまたま: Used when something happens coincidentally or unexpectedly, often implying a slight element of surprise. Similar to 偶然 (gūzen), but たまたま often emphasizes the unexpectedness more. (偶然や思いがけない出来事を表す際に使われます。偶然よりも予期せぬニュアンスを含むことが多いです。)
- 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)
- 割合に: Indicates that something is more or less than expected, or in comparison to something else. Often used adverbially. Can also be 「割と」「割合と」.
- 思いのほか: Indicates that something turned out differently or to a greater or lesser degree than one had anticipated. Can convey pleasant or unpleasant surprise.
- 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。)
- 図らずも: An adverb used to describe something that happened without prior planning or intention, often with an element of surprise, coincidence, or serendipity. It emphasizes the lack of conscious effort or expectation.
- 思いがけず: Describes an event or situation that was not anticipated or planned. (予想していなかった出来事や状況を表す際に使われる)
- はからずも: Expresses that something happened by chance or contrary to one's expectations or intentions. More formal than 偶然 (gūzen).
- にわかに: Essential structural term in CEFR B2 vocabulary syllabus. (CEFR B2語彙シラバスにおける重要表現です。)
- ばったり: Essential structural term in CEFR B2 vocabulary syllabus. (CEFR B2語彙シラバスにおける重要表現です。)
- ことのほか: Essential structural term in CEFR C1 vocabulary syllabus. (CEFR C1語彙シラバスにおける重要表現です。)
- 帥爾: Essential structural term in CEFR C2PLUS vocabulary syllabus. (CEFR C2PLUS語彙シラバスにおける重要表現です。)
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