HSK 6 grammar · new HSK syllabus
不料 and 至于: unexpectedly; as for
不料 = unexpectedly, to one’s surprise; 至于 = as for, turning to a related point.
Structure
- …，不料 + unexpected event
- …。至于 + new topic，…
How it works
不料 introduces something that happened contrary to expectation, often unwelcome: 本来想去爬山，不料下起了大雨.
至于 introduces a related topic: 我们先定时间，至于地点，以后再说.
Examples
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我们本来打算去爬山，不料下起了大雨。
We’d planned to go hiking, but it unexpectedly started pouring.
-
他以为考得不好，不料得了第一名。
He thought he’d done badly, but to his surprise he came first.
-
时间就定在周五，至于地点，我们明天再商量。
Let’s set the time for Friday; as for the venue, we’ll discuss it tomorrow.
-
这本书我推荐你看，至于买不买，你自己决定。
I recommend this book; whether you buy it is up to you.
-
比赛快结束时，不料对方连进两球。
Near the end of the match, the other side unexpectedly scored twice.
Words in these examples (51)
| 我们 | wǒmen | we; us | HSK 1 |
| 本 | běn | (measure word for books) | HSK 1 |
| 来 | lái | to come | HSK 1 |
| 打算 | dǎsuàn | to plan; plan | HSK 3 |
| 去 | qù | to go | HSK 1 |
| 爬 | pá | to climb; to crawl | HSK 3 |
| 山 | shān | mountain; hill | HSK 3 |
| 不料 | búliào | unexpectedly; to one's surprise | HSK 6 |
| 下 | xià | down; below; to go down; to get off; next | HSK 1 |
| 起 | qǐ | to rise; to start | HSK 3 |
| 了 | le | (particle marking a completed action or a change) | HSK 1 |
| 大 | dà | big; large; old (age) | HSK 1 |
| 雨 | yǔ | rain | HSK 1 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 以为 | yǐwéi | to think (wrongly); to assume | HSK 3 |
| 考 | kǎo | to take a test | HSK 2 |
| 得 | de | (particle after a verb before a description of how it is done, as in 说得很好) | HSK 2 |
| 不 | bù | not; no | HSK 1 |
| 好 | hǎo | good; well | HSK 1 |
| 第 | dì | (before a number) -th, as in 第一 "first" | HSK 1 |
| 一 | yī | one | HSK 1 |
| 名 | míng | (measure word for people) name | HSK 2 |
| 时间 | shíjiān | time | HSK 1 |
| 就 | jiù | then; just; right away; only | HSK 2 |
| 定 | dìng | to decide; to fix | HSK 4 |
| 在 | zài | to be at; at; in; (before a verb) in the middle of doing | HSK 1 |
| 周 | zhōu | week | HSK 2 |
| 五 | wǔ | five | HSK 1 |
| 至于 | zhìyú | as for; as to; to go so far as to | HSK 6 |
| 地点 | dìdiǎn | place (where something happens) | HSK 3 |
| 明天 | míngtiān | tomorrow | HSK 1 |
| 再 | zài | again | HSK 1 |
| 商量 | shāngliang | to discuss; to talk over | HSK 4 |
| 这 | zhè | this | HSK 1 |
| 书 | shū | book | HSK 1 |
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 推荐 | tuījiàn | to recommend | HSK 5 |
| 你 | nǐ | you | HSK 1 |
| 看 | kàn | to look; to watch; to read | HSK 1 |
| 买 | mǎi | to buy | HSK 1 |
| 自己 | zìjǐ | oneself | HSK 2 |
| 决定 | juédìng | to decide; decision | HSK 3 |
| 比赛 | bǐsài | match; competition | HSK 3 |
| 快 | kuài | fast; quick; soon | HSK 2 |
| 结束 | jiéshù | to end; to finish | HSK 3 |
| 时 | shí | time; when (as in …时) | HSK 2 |
| 对方 | duìfāng | the other person; the other side | HSK 4 |
| 连 | lián | even (连…都…) | HSK 4 |
| 进 | jìn | to enter; to go in | HSK 2 |
| 两 | liǎng | two (before a measure word) | HSK 1 |
| 球 | qiú | ball | HSK 2 |
Common mistakes
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✗不料我明天去。
✓我本来不想去，不料…
不料 describes something that already happened unexpectedly.
-
✗至于地点，时间定在周五。
✓时间定在周五，至于地点，以后再说。
至于 turns to a second, related topic.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 我以为他会生气， 他笑了。
2. 我只负责准备材料， 会议安排，请问经理。
3. 出门时天气很好， 中午突然下雨了。