Kotomora
JLPT N1ConstructionWritten
Furigana

と思おもいきやContrary to what one expected

と思おもいきや first presents a natural expectation, then reveals an established fact that sharply overturns it. It is similar to “just when you thought” or “contrary to what one might expect,” with a distinctly rhetorical effect.

Build an expectation, then overturn it

The first clause should be a believable prediction or classification. What follows is not merely uncertain or surprising: it is the reality that proves the first interpretation wrong or forces a sharp revision.

新しん作さくは重おもい社しゃ会かい派は映えい画がだと思おもいきや、軽けい快かいなコメディーだった。

The new release seemed set to be a serious social drama, but it turned out to be a lively comedy.

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The first half gives the expected classification; the second supplies the completed reveal.

With and without the tentative marker

と思おもいきや directly stages the expectation, while かと思おもいきや presents it more tentatively. Both still require a later fact that revises the expectation.

新しん人じんだから脇わき役やくだと思おもいきや、物もの語がたりの鍵かぎを握にぎる人じん物ぶつだった。

Because the actor was a newcomer, you might expect a minor role, but the character turned out to be central to the story.

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売うり上あげは落おちたかと思おもいきや、前ぜん年ねんを大おおきく上うわ回まわっていた。

One might have thought sales had fallen, but they were actually well above the previous year's figure.

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Choosing the right surprise pattern

かと思おもうと・かと思おもったら often organizes two events that happen in rapid succession. かと思おもった simply reports an earlier mistaken thought or prediction. ところが introduces an unexpected turn as a separate connective. By contrast, と思おもいきや places the expectation itself inside the rhetorical setup, and no immediate sequence is required.

More examples

簡かん単たんに終おわると思おもいきや、調ちょう査さには半はん年としもかかった。

We expected it to be over quickly, but the investigation took a full six months.

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古ふるい制せい度どかと思おもいきや、導どう入にゅうされたのは昨さく年ねんだった。

One might take it for an old system, but it was introduced only last year.

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彼かれは反はん対たいすると思おもいきや、真まっ先さきに賛さん成せいした。

I expected him to object, but he was the first to voice his support.

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静しずかな展てん示じだと思おもいきや、音おとと光ひかりを使つかった迫はく力りょくある演えん出しゅつが続つづく。

You might expect a quiet exhibition, but it delivers one powerful sound-and-light presentation after another.

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予よ告こく編へんだけでは地じ味みな作さく品ひんかと思おもいきや、本ほん編ぺんは息いきをつく暇ひまもない展てん開かいだった。

From the trailer alone, it looked like an understated production, but the full film unfolded at a breathless pace.

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雨あめで客きゃくは少すくないと思おもいきや、会かい場じょうは立たち見みが出でるほど混こん雑ざつした。

We expected a small crowd because of the rain, but the venue was so packed that some people had to stand.

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