ji3 ngoi6意外
Jyutpingji3 ngoi6
Yaleyi ngoih
Definition
Unexpected; mishap
colloquialemotiondescriptions
How it's used
Focus on the sense of surprise or shock resulting from an event that deviates from expectations. It is frequently used to describe a reaction to news or a situation that was not anticipated. Unlike the formal usage in other Chinese dialects, it functions naturally in spoken Cantonese to describe both the event itself and the feeling of being caught off guard.
Examples
gam1 ci3 go3 git3 gwo2 zan1 hai6 hou2 ji3 ngoi6
今次個結果真係好意外。
The result this time is really unexpected.
nei5 dim2 gaai2 wui6 ji5 gok3 dak1 gam3 ji3 ngoi6 aa4
你點解會覺得咁意外呀？
Why do you feel so surprised?
Related words
Common phrases
gam2 dou3 ji3 ngoi6
感到意外
feel surprised
ji3 liu6 zi1 ngoi6
意料之外
beyond expectation
Common mistake
Avoid using it to mean a literal accident, such as a car crash, which is usually referred to as 車禍 or 交通意外. Using 意外 alone to describe a physical mishap can sound vague or slightly unnatural in a specific context.
Tone guide
T1High level
T2High rising
T3Mid level
T4Low falling
T5Low rising
T6Low level
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
