# 出其不意

chū qí bù yì

Act when the other party least expects it

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Go beyond what the other expects

**Register:** Standard · expressive

[Choices & judgment](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/decisions)

## When to use it

Describe a surprising move that catches someone unprepared.

Often tactical, but not necessarily harmful.

## Understanding the expression

The action arrives outside the other person’s expectation, giving the initiator an advantage through surprise. It can describe a sports move, a tactical plan, or a harmless unexpected gesture. The expression concerns timing and anticipation rather than the action’s moral quality. A surprising move may be clever or inconsiderate depending on its consequences. In ordinary relationships, surprise works best when it does not undermine consent or important preparations.

## Examples

他出其不意地改变了战术。

### Traditional Chinese

他出其不意地改變了戰術。

tā chū qí bù yì dì gǎi biàn le zhàn shù 。

He changed tactics unexpectedly.

她出其不意地送来生日蛋糕。

### Traditional Chinese

她出其不意地送來生日蛋糕。

tā chū qí bù yì dì sòng lái shēng rì dàn gāo 。

She unexpectedly brought a birthday cake.

球队出其不意地快速反击。

### Traditional Chinese

球隊出其不意地快速反擊。

qiú duì chū qí bù yì dì kuài sù fǎn jī 。

The team launched a quick counterattack that caught the opposition off guard.

这个问题出其不意，让考生愣住了。

### Traditional Chinese

這個問題出其不意，讓考生愣住了。

zhè ge wèn tí chū qí bù yì ， ràng kǎo shēng lèng zhù le 。

This unexpected question left the candidate momentarily stunned.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%87%BA%E5%85%B6%E4%B8%8D%E6%84%8F)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=849&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [出奇制胜 chū qí zhì shèng Win through an unexpected move ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/chu-qi-zhi-sheng)

- [处心积虑 chǔ xīn jī lǜ Scheme persistently for a calculated purpose ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/chu-xin-ji-lv)

- [绰绰有余 chuò chuò yǒu yú Have more than enough ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/chuo-chuo-you-yu)

- [打草惊蛇 dǎ cǎo jīng shé Alert someone before you are ready to act ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/da-cao-jing-she)

## Keep this one close.

Save useful idioms, read offline, and revisit them with flashcards in Almanac.

[View on the App Store ](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6819590452)

[Previous idiom 触类旁通 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/chu-lei-pang-tong) [Next idiom 出奇制胜 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/chu-qi-zhi-sheng)