不料

The Chinese word 不料 (bùliào) is composed of two characters: 不 (bù) and 料 (liào). 不 is a negative particle that negates the meaning of the following word, while 料 means "to expect" or "to anticipate". Together, 不料 means "not expecting" or "contrary to expectation".The word 不料 is often used to express surprise or regret about something that happened unexpectedly. For example, if someone was planning to go on a trip but then it rained, they might say 不料下雨了 (bùliào xiàyǔle), which means "I didn't expect it to rain".不料 can also be used to express a sense of irony or sarcasm. For example, if someone was expecting to get a promotion at work but then didn't, they might say 不料我沒升職 (bùliào wǒ méi shēngzhí), which means "I didn't expect to not get promoted".The word 不料 is a versatile word that can be used in a variety of contexts. It is an important word to know for HSK learners, as it is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese.