nào ngờ
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Phrase: An adverbial phrase expressing that something happened contrary to what was anticipated or believed; used to introduce an unforeseen or surprising outcome.
Usage
The phrase 'nào ngờ' is used at the beginning of a clause to express surprise or to state that an event occurred unexpectedly, against all prior assumptions or expectations. It often connects a previous belief or situation with a contrasting reality.
Examples
- (I thought he had returned to his home country, but unexpectedly, he is still here.)
- (We kept thinking it would rain, against all expectations it turned out very sunny.)
- Nào ngờ cô ấy chính là giám đốc mới của công ty. (Unexpectedly, she is the new director of the company.)
Advanced Usage
- 'Nào ngờ đâu': A slightly more literary or emphatic variant with the same meaning.
- Anh ta tỏ ra rất thân thiện, nào ngờ đâu lại là một kẻ lừa đảo. (He acted very friendly; little did I know he was a fraudster.)
Variants and Related Words
- Không ngờ: To not expect. (This is more commonly used as a verb phrase, e.g., - I didn't expect you to come.)
- Ai ngờ: Who would have thought/expected? (A rhetorical question form with a similar meaning.)
- Ai ngờ kết quả lại như vậy? (Who would have expected such a result?)
Synonyms
- Bất ngờ (adj/adv): Sudden, suddenly, unexpectedly. (Describes the surprising nature of the event itself.)
- Ngoài dự đoán / Ngoài mong đợi: Outside of prediction/expectation.
- Không ai ngờ đến: No one expected.
Related Idioms/Phrases
- Trở tay không kịp: To be caught off guard; to be unable to react in time. This describes the of an unexpected event introduced by 'nào ngờ'.
- Sự việc xảy ra nào ngờ khiến mọi người trở tay không kịp. (The incident happened so unexpectedly that everyone was caught off guard.)
- Against all expectations; unexpectedly