Meaning

Primary

Unexpectedly

Alternative

More Than Expected

Word Type

adverb

Explanation

Something that happens outside the plan is something that happens unexpectedly.

Reading

あんがい
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

This is a jukugo word, which usually means on'yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you'll know how to read this as well.

Context

Context Sentences

日本語学習は私にはかなりハードルが高いんじゃないかと思っていたんですが、案外そうでもなかったです。

I thought learning Japanese would be very difficult for me, but unexpectedly, it actually wasn’t that bad.

日本人の魚好きの人でも、魚の小骨が苦手な人って案外多いんですよ。

Even among Japanese fish-lovers, there are a surprisingly large number of people who dislike small fish bones.

ご両親、全然そうは見えませんけど、案外お年を召してらっしゃるんですね。

Although they don't look it, your parents are older than I expected.

Kanji Composition