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.
Also searched as: yi xiang bu dao, yi xiang bu dao,意想不到 meaning, 意想不到 in english
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.
When to Use
Situation: The plot twist was completely unexpected.
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
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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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ān tǔ zhòng qiān
Prefer stability; reluctant to relocate
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故土难离
gù tǔ nán lí
Hard to leave one's homeland
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luò yè guī gēn
Return to one's roots; go back home
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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 theLife Philosophy category..
When is 意想不到 used?
Situation: The plot twist was completely unexpected.
What is the pinyin for 意想不到?
The pinyin pronunciation for 意想不到 is “yì xiǎng bù dào”.