How to say 'Unexpected' in Japanese | 意外

Wondering how to say 'Unexpected' in Japanese? You're in the right place!

The Japanese word for Unexpected is 'Igai', written as 意外 in Japanese.'Unexpected' in hiragana is いがい.

word

意外

Meaning

Unexpected

Reading

いがい

igai

Kanji

意Idea 外Outside

Explanation

The Japanese adjectival noun '意外 (いがい)' means 'unexpected'. It is used to describe situations, events, or outcomes that are surprising or contrary to what one might anticipate. This word often carries a nuance of something being unexpectedly good, bad, or simply different from what was assumed. For example: The test was unexpectedly easy「テストは意外に簡単だった」(テストはいがいにかんたんだった). Her reaction was unexpected「彼女の反応は意外だった」(かのじょのはんのうはいがいだった). It can also be used in phrases like '意外と (いがいと)', which emphasizes the surprising nature of something, as in '意外と面白い (いがいとおもしろい) (unexpectedly interesting)'.

Part Of Speech

adjectival noun

Kanji JLPT

Kanji Grade

Frequency

2120

Composition

kanji

Handwriting

Kanji in the Word 意外

This word contains 2 kanji characters:

kanji

意

Meaning

Idea

kanji

外

Meaning

Outside

Words Related to 意外 Through the Kanji 意

These 28 Words contain the Kanji 意 as well.

word

意味

Meaning

word

意見

Meaning

Opinion

word

注意

Meaning

Attention

word

用意

Meaning

Preparation

word

意思

Meaning

Intention

word

得意

Meaning

Good, Pride

word

意志

Meaning

Will

word

意義

Meaning

Significance

word

意

Meaning

word

合意

Meaning

Agreement

word

決意

Meaning

Determination

word

意図

Meaning

Intention

word

意地悪

Meaning

Spite

word

意識

Meaning

Awareness, Consciousness

word

意欲

Meaning

Motivation

word

不意

Meaning

Suddenness

word

意気

Meaning

Spirit, Enthusiasm

word

好意

Meaning

Goodwill

word

意地

Meaning

Stubbornness, Disposition

word

任意

Meaning

Voluntary, Optional

word

同意

Meaning

Consent, Agreement

word

無意味

Meaning

Meaningless

word

不注意

Meaning

Carelessness

word

生意気

Meaning

Cheeky

word

意向

Meaning

Intention

word

無意識

Meaning

Unconsciously

word

注意深い

Meaning

Careful

word

不得意

Meaning

Poor

Words Related to 意外 Through the Kanji 外

These 29 Words contain the Kanji 外 as well.

word

外

Meaning

Outside

word

以外

Meaning

Except

word

外人

Meaning

Foreigner

word

外国人

Meaning

Foreigner

word

外国語

Meaning

Foreign language

word

外国

Meaning

Foreign country

word

海外

Meaning

Overseas

word

外す

Meaning

Remove, Miss

word

外出

Meaning

Outing

word

外食

Meaning

Eating out

word

外来語

Meaning

Loanword

word

国外

Meaning

Abroad

word

外部

Meaning

Outside

word

外交

Meaning

Diplomacy, Foreign relations

word

案外

Meaning

Unexpectedly

word

例外

Meaning

Exception

word

外相

Meaning

Foreign minister

word

外観

Meaning

Appearance

word

外貨

Meaning

Foreign currency

word

外れる

Meaning

Detach, Miss

word

外務省

Meaning

Foreign affairs

word

外科

Meaning

Surgery

word

外側

Meaning

Outside

word

外れ

Meaning

End, Miss

word

郊外

Meaning

Suburbs

word

町外れ

Meaning

Outskirts

word

外務

Meaning

Foreign affairs

word

外来

Meaning

Foreign

word

内外

Meaning

Inside outside, Domestic foreign

Learn the Word 意外

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What does 'Igai' (意外) mean?

'Igai' means 'Unexpected' .

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