不意 (bù yì) — unexpectedly; inadvertently (literary)

Definition

Literary adverb meaning 'unexpectedly, inadvertently' — a written/formal style, used instead of the everyday 突然 or 无意 in formal prose. Often appears in fixed phrases like 不意间, 不意之中, 不意之举.

adverb

unexpectedlyinadvertently (literary)

Examples

。
Tā bú yì fā xiàn le zhè ge mì mì.
He unexpectedly discovered this secret.
，。
Wǒ wú yì zhōng shuō chū nà jù huà, zhēn shì bú yì zhī jǔ.
I accidentally blurted out that sentence; it was truly an unintentional act.
。
Tā bú yì jiān tí dào le nà jiàn shì.
He inadvertently mentioned that matter.

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