出乎 (chū hū) — to be beyond (expectations, predictions)

Definition

A written/verb-object chunk meaning 'to go beyond' (expectations, imagination). Used in formal phrases like 出乎意料, not in everyday speech.

verb
to be beyond (expectations, predictions)

Examples

  • 出乎。
    Zhè cì kǎo shì de jié guǒ chū hū hū suǒ yǒu rén yì liào.
    The result of this exam was beyond everyone's expectations.
  • 出乎。
    Tā de fǎn yìng wán quán chū hū hū wǒ de yì liào.
    His reaction was completely beyond my expectations.
  • 出乎。
    Zhè yàng hǎo de chéng jì chū hū hū le tā de xiǎng xiàng.
    Such good grades exceeded his imagination.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

出chūgo out
乎hū

What 出 suggests is extended by 乎 to mean beyond expectations.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

出 combines 止 (foot) and 凵 (cave) to show a foot stepping out of a cave.

Open 出 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 丂丂kǎobranch

The old 乎 paired an element for wind or air with 丂, a branch used as a sound part, and was the original form of the word for 'to call; to cry'.

Open 乎 →

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