按说 (àn shuō) — normally, ordinarily (setting up an expectation that is often contradicted)
Definition
Sets up an expectation that something 'normally' or 'logically' should happen — almost always followed by a contrasting outcome (按理 is the same idea, more about logical reason). Different from 平时/平日, which name ordinary times, not expectations.
adverb
normallyordinarily (setting up an expectation that is often contradicted)
Examples
- 按说，。àn shuō Jīn tiān bú huì xià yǔ, kě hái shì xià yǔ le.Normally it shouldn't rain today, but it did anyway.
- 按说，。àn shuō Zhè ge gōng zuò hěn jiǎn dān, méi xiǎng dào zhè me fù zá.This job should have been simple, but I didn't expect it to be so complicated.
- 按说，。àn shuō Tā bú huì jù jué, shuí zhī tā yì kǒu huí jué le.Normally he wouldn't refuse, but to my surprise he turned it down flat.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.