Definition

1. Adverb:
   • Contrary to what is expected; unexpectedly: Used to express that something happens in a way that is surprising or opposite to what one had anticipated or assumed.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:
  • Tôi tưởng anh ấy sẽ đến, dè đâu anh ấy lại bận việc. (I thought he would come, but unexpectedly he was busy.)
  • Cô ấy nói sẽ giúp tôi, dè đâu đến lúc cần lại không thấy đâu. (She said she would help me, contrary to expectation, when I needed her, she was nowhere to be found.)

Advanced Usage

• "Dè đâu" is often used at the beginning of a clause to introduce a surprising or contrary outcome to a previously stated assumption or situation.
  • Dè đâu trời lại mưa to ngay giữa mùa khô. (Unexpectedly, it rained heavily right in the middle of the dry season.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ai ngờ: Who would have thought; similarly used to express surprise at an unexpected turn of events.

  • Ai ngờ câu chuyện lại kết thúc buồn như vậy. (Who would have thought the story would end so sadly.)

• Không ngờ: Did not expect.

  • Tôi không ngờ lại gặp cậu ở đây. (I didn't expect to meet you here.)

Synonyms

• Bất ngờ: Suddenly, unexpectedly.
• Ngoài dự kiến: Outside of expectation.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "Dè đâu đâu": A more emphatic or literary variant with the same meaning.
  • Chẳng hẹn mà nên, dè đâu đâu mối lương duyên. (Without any arrangement, who would have expected this happy marriage.)

1. contrary to what is expected; unexpecdly