syu4 bat1 zi1殊不知

Jyutpingsyu4 bat1 zi1

Yalesyùh bāt jī

連詞Uncommon

Definition

Unexpectedly; who would have thought.

writtenother

How it's used

Carries a literary or formal tone that contrasts sharply with the casual nature of spoken Cantonese. While it functions similarly to 點知, it is rarely used in casual conversation and is more common in written narratives or formal storytelling. Using it in everyday speech can make you sound like you are reading from a book or trying to sound overly dramatic.

Examples

ngo5我ji5以wai4為keoi5佢faan1返zo2咗uk1屋kei2企，syu4殊bat1不zi1知keoi5佢zung6仲喺hai2街gaai1度。

I thought he went home, but unexpectedly he is still on the street.

nei5你ji5以wai4為keoi5佢hou2好gwaai1乖，syu4殊bat1不zi1知keoi5佢seng4成jat6日zau2走tong4堂㗎？

You think he is well-behaved, but who would have thought he skips class all the time?

Common phrases

syu4殊bat1不zi1知keoi5佢

who would have thought that he/she

Common mistake

Learners often mistake it for a standard conversational connector like 點知 or 原來. Because it sounds quite formal, it can feel unnatural or pretentious if used in simple, everyday exchanges about mundane topics.