Meanings of 不料
By ear
Play it, then pick what 不料 means.
About 不料
Podcast: 不料
Podcast: 不料
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 不料
意外 (yìwài) — use 不料 when emphasizing a surprising outcome that contradicts expectations, while 意外 is broader and can refer to any unexpected event.
不料 is often used in narrative contexts to introduce a twist or surprise, making it somewhat informal. Be cautious not to confuse it with 料 (liào), which can mean 'to expect' or 'to plan'. The tone is crucial; ensure you pronounce 不 (bù) with a falling tone and 料 (liào) with a rising tone.
As a level 6 vocabulary word, 不料 connects with other words that express surprise or contrast. Focus on using it in complex sentences to enhance your storytelling skills and practice its usage in conjunction with verbs that indicate actions leading up to the surprise.
Learners often confuse 不料 with 料 (liào) alone, mistakenly using it in contexts where the surprise element is absent. For example, saying '我料他会来' (I expect he will come) is incorrect; use 不料 to express the unexpected nature.
Pronunciation of 不料
Drill the tone of 不料 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason Explains 不料 to You
Let me explain 不料 for you
Make it yours
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 不料 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
How Well Do You Know 不料?
Learning Lab
Knowing 不料 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
- MeaningFree
- CharacterFree
- PinyinFree
- TonePro
- ListeningPro
- SpeakingPro
- WritingPro
Component Characters
How to say unexpectedly in Chinese
“unexpectedly” in Chinese is不料
不料 (bù liào) is used to express an unexpected outcome or surprise in a situation. It often introduces an event or result that deviates from what one anticipated, highlighting a contrast between expectation and reality.
When to use 不料
不料 is often used in narrative contexts to introduce a twist or surprise, making it somewhat informal. Be cautious not to confuse it with 料 (liào), which can mean 'to expect' or 'to plan'. The tone is crucial; ensure you pronounce 不 (bù) with a falling tone and 料 (liào) with a rising tone.
不料 or something close to it
意外 (yìwài) — use 不料 when emphasizing a surprising outcome that contradicts expectations, while 意外 is broader and can refer to any unexpected event.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 不料 with 料 (liào) alone, mistakenly using it in contexts where the surprise element is absent. For example, saying '我料他会来' (I expect he will come) is incorrect; use 不料 to express the unexpected nature.
Write 不料
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 不料 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 不料?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
Frequently Asked Questions about 不料
You can use 不料 to introduce a surprising twist, for example: '我以为他会来，不料他却没来。' (I thought he would come, but unexpectedly, he didn't.)
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 不料?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.