← IDIOMS · CAUTION
HSK 7-9
yì意thoughtxiǎng想thinkbù不notdào到arrive
Unexpected; unforeseen.

Literal meaning

thought (意) — think (想) — not (不) — arrive (到)

Origin

A classical four-character phrase describing something that was not anticipated.

Examples

Zhè这shì是yī一gè个yì意xiǎng想bù不dào到de的jīng惊xǐ喜。
This is an unexpected surprise.
Yì意xiǎng想bù不dào到de的shì事qíng情fā发shēng生le了。
Something unexpected happened.

Usage & nuances

Used to describe events or situations that were not predicted or anticipated.

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