<p>不可预知的情况 not can predict situation = an unexpected situation<br>
出乎意料的形势 unexpected circumstance<br>
不意外 not unexpected<br>
意外 unexpected
竟然 unexpected</p>

<p>’那个打过来的电话是意料之外的。‘ 或者 ‘没想到那个电话会打过来。’<br>
That phone call was unexpected.</p>

<p>会议比我预料中的难很多。
The meeting was much more difficult than I expected.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-06T00:13:38.723Z
Thank you also for your response. I had not considered 不可预知 as another approach. Is this a more formal phrasing than "没想到？"
kmix9911
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-06T01:14:58.310Z
Not really suitable in your context.
Pedroski
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-05T00:34:44.830Z
2017-03-06T01:17:18.020Z
2017-03-06T01:17:18.020Z
Pedroski
<p>There are many situations I'd like to say the following in Chinese:</p>

<ul>
<li>"That phone call was unexpected" </li>
<li>"I did not expect that meeting to be so difficult"</li>
</ul>

<p>The only approach I know of is:</p>

<ul>
<li>"我没想到那个电话“</li>
<li>”我没想到那个会议会是哪么难“</li>
</ul>

<p>I know you can also use 突然, but it's not quite parallel. The best way I can think of applying it in this situation is:</p>

<ul>
<li>那个电话突然来了</li>
</ul>

<p>Appreciate anyone's thoughts on this!</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-05T01:00:48.767Z
I think you have a good **colloquial** handle of this already
Mou某
<mandarin><usage><word-requests>
What are a few alternative ways to say "to expect"?
# What are a few alternative ways to say "to expect"?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-03-04)

There are many situations I'd like to say the following in Chinese:

* "That phone call was unexpected"
* "I did not expect that meeting to be so difficult"

The only approach I know of is:

* "我没想到那个电话“
* ”我没想到那个会议会是哪么难“

I know you can also use 突然, but it's not quite parallel. The best way I can think of applying it in this situation is:

* 那个电话突然来了

Appreciate anyone's thoughts on this!

Thanks

**Tags:** mandarin, usage, word-requests

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I think you have a good **colloquial** handle of this already  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-03-05. Score: 2

不可预知的情况 not can predict situation = an unexpected situation  
出乎意料的形势 unexpected circumstance  
不意外 not unexpected  
意外 unexpected
竟然 unexpected

’那个打过来的电话是意料之外的。‘ 或者 ‘没想到那个电话会打过来。’  
That phone call was unexpected.

会议比我预料中的难很多。
The meeting was much more difficult than I expected.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you also for your response. I had not considered 不可预知 as another approach. Is this a more formal phrasing than "没想到？"  
> **username_2**: Not really suitable in your context.  

---

