驚おどろいたことに

expression, adverb

surprisingly; to my surprise

Fixed phrase used adverbially at the beginning of a sentence to express the speaker's surprise at an unexpected fact or situation.

• 驚おどろいたことに、彼かれはもう帰かえっていた。

  To my surprise, he had already gone home.

• 驚おどろいたことに、その店みせはまだ開ひらいていた。

  Surprisingly, the shop was still open.