expression
unawares; before one is aware; unconsciously
Literary phrase meaning something happens without one realizing it. Usually used as 冥々のうちに, often in written or formal contexts.
冥々のうちに時間が過ぎていた。
Time had passed without my noticing.
彼は冥々のうちに悪い習慣が身についてしまった。
He unconsciously picked up a bad habit.
冥々 (meimei) means 'dark' or 'invisible', and うち means 'inside' or 'within'. Together, the phrase literally means 'in the dark/invisible interior', figuratively referring to something happening outside of one's conscious awareness.