Expressing surprise using 没想到

In this lesson, we will learn one way to express surprise in Mandarin Chinese.
Let's start with the following examples.
没想到桂林的山水这么美！Méi xiǎngdào guìlín de shānshuǐ zhème měi!I did not expect that Guilin's landscape would be so beautiful!
没想到学中文的学生这么多！Méi xiǎngdào xué zhōngwén de xuéshēng zhème duō!I didn't expect so many students to learn Chinese!
马克没想到凯特这么漂亮！Mǎkè méi xiǎngdào kǎitè zhème piàoliang!Mark didn't expect Kate to be so beautiful!
永民没想到火车站人这么多！Yǒng mín méi xiǎngdào huǒchē zhàn rén zhème duō!Yongmin did not expect so many people at the train station!
没想到你也选了这门课！Méi xiǎngdào nǐ yě xuǎnle zhè mén kè!I didn't expect you to take this course!
As you have probably realised, it is the word 没想到 that is used to express a feeling of surprise. From the previous examples, we can draw some conclusions:
1. When the subject is 我, the subject can be dropped and the sentence can start directly with 没想到.2. 没想到 is used to express the subject's surprise about a certain matter.3. 没想到 can be used with 这么, but not always.
We can analyse the word 没想到 with more details.
The pinyin of 没想到 is méi xiǎngdào. This word is made up of three syllables: mei in the second tone, xiang in the third tone and dao with the fourth tone. Let's pratice together!
Now that we are confident with its pronunciation, we can learn how to write it using Chinese characters. It is written 没想到. You can follow me on the board to practice the calligraphy and the stroke order.
We can consolidate what we have learnt with some exercises! Try to complete the following sentences.
1.我以为你家很小，没想到__________。
2.来纽约以前，我觉得纽约一定非常现代化，没想到__________。
3.十年以前，很多人没想到__________。
4.他以为上大学比高中轻松，可是他没想到__________。
Let's work through the solutions together.
1.我以为你家很小，没想到你家里这么大。Wǒ yǐwéi nǐ jiā hěn xiǎo, méi xiǎngdào nǐ jiālǐ zhème dà.I thought your home was very small. I didn't expect it to be so big.
2.来纽约以前，我觉得纽约一定非常现代化，没想到这里也能看到一些传统文化。Lái niǔyuē yǐqián, wǒ juédé niǔyuē yīdìng fēicháng xiàndàihuà, méi xiǎngdào zhèlǐ yě néng kàn dào yīxiē chuántǒng wénhuà.Before coming to New York, I thought New York would be very modern. I didn't expect to see some traditional culture here.
3.十年以前，很多人没想到这里会发展成今天这个样子。Shí nián yǐqián, hěnduō rén méi xiǎngdào zhèlǐ huì fāzhǎn chéng jīntiān zhège yàngzi.Ten years ago, many people did not expect that this place would develop into what it is today.
4.他以为上大学比高中轻松，可是他没想到上大学学习也很忙。Tā yǐwéi shàng dàxué bǐ gāozhōng qīngsōng, kěshì tā méi xiǎngdào shàng dàxué xuéxí yě hěn máng.He thought that studying at university is easier than studying at high school, but he didn't expect it to be so busy as well.
You are capable of expressing surprise in Mandarin! If you want do more exercises, you can try these ones.
Complete the following sentences using 没想到.
1.我以为中国的东西都比较便宜，。
2.我以前听说这门课的老师要求不太高，。
3.我刚认识他的时候，他只会说几句汉语，。
4.二十年以前，使用手机的人还很少，。
5.我十年前来过一次中国，__________。
Let me know how it goes!