ISORI

〜と思(おも)いきや

JLPT N1:

contrary to expectation

Presents a confident expectation and immediately overturns it with an unexpected reality: “I thought X, but…”.

How to form it

  • Put と思(とおも)いきや after the expected outcome: 晴(は)れると思(とおも)いきや.
  • The following clause must contradict or sharply overturn that expectation.
  • The subject need not literally have voiced the thought; the phrase can frame a natural expectation shared by the observer.

Examples

今日(きょう)は晴(は)れると思(とおも)いきや、午後(ごご)から大雨(おおあめ)になった。

I thought it would be sunny today, but contrary to expectation it poured in the afternoon.

簡単(かんたん)に勝(か)てると思(とおも)いきや、最後(さいご)まで苦戦(くせん)した。

We expected an easy win, only to struggle until the end.

Common mistakes

  • Giving a result that confirms the expectation.
  • Using it for simple uncertainty rather than a reversal.