と思いきや

JLPT Level: N1

Meanings

I thought... but

Just when I thought..., it turned out that...

Contrary to my expectation... it was actually...

I expected one outcome, but the reality was different.

Usage

Verb/dictionary form + と思いきや

い-adjective + と思いきや

な-adjective/noun + だと思いきや

Explanation

と思いきや is used to express that something happened in a way that was contrary to the speaker's expectation. The first clause states the assumption or expectation, and the second clause reveals the surprising or opposite outcome. It often has a sense of mild astonishment or irony and is commonly used in storytelling or when giving a contrastive remark about events that did not go as predicted. It can be used in past contexts to describe a situation that unfolded differently from what was anticipated.

雨が止むと思いきや、さらに激しく降り始めた。

あめがやむとおもいきや、さらにはげしくふりはじめた。

I thought the rain would stop, but it began to pour even harder.

彼は早く着くと思いきや、到着したのは予定より遅かった。

かれははやくつくとおもいきや、とうちゃくしたのはよていよりおそかった。

I thought he would arrive early, but he ended up arriving later than planned.

安いと思いきや、実はすごく高かった。

やすいとおもいきや、じつはすごくたかかった。

I thought it was cheap, but it turned out to be very expensive.

彼女は静かだと思いきや、パーティーではとても賑やかだった。

かのじょはしずかだとおもいきや、パーティーではとてもしにぎやかだった。

I thought she was quiet, but she was very lively at the party.