意想不到
意想不到 (yì xiǎng bù dào) literally means “mind imagines not reaching” and expresses “unexpected; unforeseen”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: yi xiang bu dao, yi xiang bu dao,意想不到 meaning, 意想不到 in english
Unexpected; unforeseen
Pronunciation: yì xiǎng bù dào
Literal meaning: Mind imagines not reaching
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes something that one's thoughts (意想) could not (不) reach or anticipate (到). The phrase emphasizes the limits of imagination when confronted with surprising reality. It emerged in vernacular literature during the Ming Dynasty to describe plot twists and unexpected events. The structure suggests that what occurred was beyond the boundaries of what could reasonably be imagined. Modern usage commonly describes surprises, unexpected developments, or outcomes that defied all predictions.
Examples
English: "The plot twist was completely unexpected."
Chinese: 剧情的反转完全意想不到。
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
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yī fān fēng shùn
Plain sailing; everything going smoothly
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千里迢迢
qiān lǐ tiáo tiáo
Travel a great distance
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民富国强
mín fù guó qiáng
Prosperous people and powerful nation
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国泰民安
guó tài mín ān
National peace and public security
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太平盛世
tài píng shèng shì
Golden age of peace and prosperity
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sì hǎi shēng píng
Peace everywhere; universal harmony
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安土重迁
ān tǔ zhòng qiān
Prefer stability; reluctant to relocate
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Hard to leave one's homeland
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 意想不到 mean in English?
意想不到 (yì xiǎng bù dào) literally translates to “Mind imagines not reaching” and is used to express “Unexpected; unforeseen”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 意想不到 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving unexpected; unforeseen.
What is the pinyin for 意想不到?
The pinyin pronunciation for 意想不到 is “yì xiǎng bù dào”.