不料
bù liào HSK 6

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

不料今天突然下大雨了。
Búliào jīntiān tūrán xià dàyǔ le.
Unexpectedly, it rained heavily today.
他原计划旅行,不料生病了。
Tā yuán jìhuà lǚxíng, búliào shēngbìng le.
He originally planned to travel, but to his surprise, he got sick.
不料会议被取消了。
Búliào huìyì bèi qǔxiāo le.
Unexpectedly, the meeting was canceled.
不料他来了。
Búliào tā lái le.
Unexpectedly, he came.
不料下雨了。
Búliào xià yǔ le.
Unexpectedly, it rained.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of 不料 as 'not as expected'—break it down: 不 (bù) means 'not,' and 料 (liào) means 'to anticipate' or 'to expect.' So, 不料 literally means 'did not expect,' helping you remember its meaning of surprise.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in formality and can be used in both spoken and written Chinese, though it is more common in narrative or descriptive contexts. It often appears in storytelling or recounting events to highlight a twist or surprise.

📖 Grammar Points

不料 is typically used at the beginning of a clause to introduce an unexpected event, following a statement of expectation or plan. For example: '我本想去跑步,不料竟下起雨来了。' (I intended to go running, but unexpectedly it started raining.)

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese storytelling and literature, 不料 is commonly used to create dramatic tension or plot twists, reflecting a cultural appreciation for narratives with unexpected turns.

🔄 Similar Words

Unlike 没想到 (méi xiǎngdào), which is more casual and conversational, 不料 is slightly more literary and often used in written narratives. It also differs from 意外地 (yìwài de), which is an adverb meaning 'accidentally' or 'by surprise,' as 不料 functions as a conjunction to connect clauses.

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