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意外 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
意外yìwàiunexpectedHSK 5, a, rank #1137, Medium
意外yìwàiaccidentHSK 5, a, rank #1137, Medium
意外yìwàimishapHSK 5, a, rank #1137, Medium
意外yìwài>个[gè]HSK 5, a, rank #1137, Medium
yìwài(yi4wai4) T4
  1. 1unexpected
  2. 2accident
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
意外yìwài(yi4wai4)

The term '意外' refers to something that is unexpected or occurs by chance, often resulting in an accident or mishap. It can be used to describe incidents that are surprising or unforeseen, such as an unexpected event or a sudden accident.

Frequency#1137DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

'意外' is commonly used in Chinese media reports about accidents or unexpected incidents, reflecting the societal emphasis on safety and awareness. The term often appears in discussions about traffic accidents or unexpected events in daily life.

Memory Tip

Imagine a surprised face when someone opens a door and finds a cake they didn't expect. The first character '意' (yì) could be visualized as a thought (idea) that leads to an unexpected event, while '外' (wài) suggests something outside or beyond your anticipation.

Meanings of 意外

yìwài(yi4wai4)
1unexpected
2accident
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 意外

意外Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名形词xíngróngcíadj-noun (adj.-n.)Part of Speech
#1137Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2

Podcast: 意外

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Podcast: 意外

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AI Study Notes for 意外

Quick Contrast

意外 (unexpected) vs 事故 (accident) — use 意外 for surprising events, while 事故 specifically refers to accidents.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a surprised face when someone opens a door and finds a cake they didn't expect. The first character '意' (yì) could be visualized as a thought (idea) that leads to an unexpected event, while '外' (wài) suggests something outside or beyond your anticipation.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse '意外' with '意图' (intention), as they convey different meanings. This term is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's essential to use it appropriately when discussing safety or accidents.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 5 word, '意外' connects well with other words that describe emotions or states of being, such as '惊讶' (surprised) and '突然' (suddenly). Students should focus on using it in context with scenarios involving unexpected outcomes.

Cultural Note

'意外' is commonly used in Chinese media reports about accidents or unexpected incidents, reflecting the societal emphasis on safety and awareness. The term often appears in discussions about traffic accidents or unexpected events in daily life.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse '意外' with '意图' (intention) due to their similar pronunciations. For example, saying '他的意外是很清楚的' (His accident is very clear) is incorrect; it should be '他的意图是很清楚的' (His intention is very clear).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 意外

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Component Characters

意yìItaly
HSK 313 strokes心
View full entry
外wàioutside
HSK 15 strokes夕
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Write 意外

意
外

Practice writing 意外 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 意外

意外 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Related grammar lessons1
Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

我那天在路上____地碰见了多年没见的老朋友。

That day on the road I unexpectedly ran into an old friend I had not seen for years.

Example Sentences for 意外 (15)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
虽然这件事带有戏剧性，但并不意外。

suī rán zhè jiàn shì dài yǒu xì jù xìng， ， dàn bìng bù yì。

For all its drama, the event was not unexpected.
2
这份意外的礼物是为了感谢我们给予的帮助。

zhè fèn yì wài de lǐ wù shì wéi le gǎn xiè wǒ mén gěi yú de bāng zhù。

The surprise gift is a thankyou for our help.
3
还不清楚这起事件是意外还是蓄意所为。

huán bù qīng chǔ zhè qǐ shì jiàn shì yì wài huán shì xù yì suǒ wéi。

It's not clear whether the incident was an accident or deliberate.
4
由于发生了不幸的意外，我知道消息的时候已经晚了一天。

yóu yú fā shēng le bù xìng de yì wài， ， wǒ zhī dào xiāo xī de shí hòu yǐ jīng wǎn le yī。

Through some unfortunate accident, the information reached me a day late.
5
他的病情发展得这么快，您是否感到意外？

tā de bìng qíng fā zhǎn dé zhè mó kuài， ， nín shì fǒu gǎn dào yì？

Were you surprised that his disease progressed so quickly?
6
不管什么年龄都有可能遭遇意外事故和突发疾病。

bù guǎn shí mó nián líng dū yǒu kě néng zāo yù yì wài shì gù hé tū fā jí bìng。

Accidents and sudden illnesses are no respecters of age.
7
另有5名美军士兵死于各种意外。

lìng yǒu5 5 míng měi jūn shì bīng sǐ yú gè zhǒng yì。

Five other US military personnel were killed in various incidents.
8
每年有5,000人死于家中的意外事故。

měi nián yǒu5,000 5,000 rén sǐ yú jiā zhōng de yì wài shì。

5,000 people die every year because of accidents in the home.
9
当意外事件干扰了你的生活时，你会感到焦虑吗？

dāng yì wài shì jiàn gān rǎo le nǐ de shēng huó shí， ， nǐ huì gǎn dào jiāo lǜ？

Do you feel anxious when unforeseen incidents intrude on your day?
10
警方说他的死是个意外，起码官方消息如此。

jǐng fāng shuō tā de sǐ shì gè yì wài， ， qǐ mǎ guān fāng xiāo xī rú。

The police say his death was an accident, officially at least.
11
他在演讲过程中突然忘词，这让所有人感到十分意外。

Tā zài yǎnjiǎng guòchéng zhōng túrán wàngcí, zhè ràng suǒyǒu rén gǎndào shífēn yìwài.

He suddenly forgot his lines during the speech, which made everyone feel very unexpected.
12
公司宣布破产的消息让员工们感到非常意外。

Gōngsī xuānbù pòchǎn de xiāoxi ràng yuángōngmen gǎndào fēicháng yìwài.

The announcement of the company's bankruptcy was very unexpected for the employees.
13
在旅行途中，我们遇到了意外的暴雨，只好取消行程。

Zài lǚxíng túzhōng, wǒmen yùdào le yìwài de bàoyǔ, zhǐhǎo qǔxiāo xíngchéng.

During the trip, we encountered an unexpected storm and had to cancel our plans.
14
他意外地在老朋友的婚礼上见到了初恋女友。

Tā yìwài de zài lǎo péngyǒu de hūnlǐ shàng jiàn dào le chūliàn nǚyǒu.

He unexpectedly met his first girlfriend at an old friend's wedding.
15
大家都认为他会赢得比赛，结果却意外地输了。

Dàjiā dōu rènwéi tā huì yíngdé bǐsài, jiéguǒ què yìwài de shūle.

Everyone thought he would win the competition, but unexpectedly, he lost.

Cultural Notes for 意外

🏮Cultural insight

'意外' is commonly used in Chinese media reports about accidents or unexpected incidents, reflecting the societal emphasis on safety and awareness. The term often appears in discussions about traffic accidents or unexpected events in daily life.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, the concept of an 'accident' may often imply fault or negligence, whereas in Chinese culture, '意外' can carry a more neutral connotation of simply being unexpected, without necessarily assigning blame.

Frequently Asked Questions about 意外

'意外' typically refers to unexpected events that are negative or neutral, such as accidents. For positive surprises, it's better to use '惊喜'.