予想外

• Reading: よそうがい
• Romaji: yosougai
• Kanji breakdown: 予 (yo) — beforehand, in advance; 想 (sou) — thought, idea; 外 (gai) — outside, beyond
• Pronunciation: /jo.soː.ɡai/

Meaning

Unexpected; unforeseen. Describes outcomes or events that deviate from what was anticipated.

A no-adjective and na-adjective formed from 予想 (yosou, expectation/prediction) + 外 (gai, outside). Literally 'outside of expectations.' Used attributively with の or な: 予想外の結果 (unexpected result), 予想外な展開 (unforeseen development). Often appears in news reporting and sports commentary to describe surprising outcomes.

Examples

1. 試験の結果は予想外に良かった。 The exam results were unexpectedly good.
2. 予想外の展開にチーム全員が驚いた。 The whole team was surprised by the unexpected turn of events.
3. 予想外な出費が続いて、今月は家計が苦しい。 Unforeseen expenses kept coming up, making this month's budget really tight.

Usage Guide

Context: news, sports, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 予 (yo, beforehand) + 想 (sou, thought) + 外 (gai, outside). Together: 'outside of prior thinking' — beyond what was foreseen.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal