“fushigi to・fushigi na koto ni”: Strangely / Oddly Enough [JLPT N1]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
Something one finds curious actually happened
“fushigi to・fushigi na koto ni”: Strangely / Oddly Enough
This pair expresses “curious, happening for no explainable reason”: 不思議(ふしぎ)と = “strangely, inexplicably” (an adverb modifying the following action): 「不思議と、彼といると元気が出る」 (strangely, I feel energized around him); 不思議なことに = “oddly enough, curiously” (at the sentence head, commenting on the whole event): 「不思議なことに、なくした財布が戻ってきた」 (oddly enough, the wallet I lost came back). Both carry a tone of wonder, the inexplicable.
🧠 Core nuance: no reason you can give, yet it happened
The core is expressing wonder at an inexplicable phenomenon: something happened with no clear reason, unexpectedly, yet it did (somehow wasn't nervous, oddly the wallet came back). 不思議と is an adverb modifying the action directly, lighter in tone (somehow…); 不思議なことに sits at the head, commenting on the whole event, more dignified (curiously enough…). Both carry the wonder of “can't figure it out, yet it happened.”
📌 How to Connect
| Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 不思議と ＋ verb clause | strangely 〜 (adverb) | 不思議と涙が止まった |
| 不思議なことに ＋ sentence | oddly enough 〜 (head comment) | 不思議なことに、〜 |
| (note) 不思議と modifies directly | ✗ 不思議となことに | — |
💬 Example Sentences
- 不思議と、彼と話していると元気が出る。(Strangely, talking with him energizes me.) — strangely
- 大舞台なのに、不思議と緊張しなかった。(Despite the big stage, oddly I wasn't nervous.) — inexplicably
- 不思議なことに、なくした財布が手元に戻ってきた。(Oddly enough, the wallet I lost came back to me.) — oddly enough
- 不思議なことに、その薬を飲むと痛みが消えた。(Curiously, the pain vanished when I took that medicine.) — inexplicable
- 雨の日は、不思議と心が落ち着く。(On rainy days, strangely, I feel calm.) — for no clear reason
🔄 Compare: 不思議と vs なぜか vs なんとなく vs 案の定
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 不思議と | “strangely” (with wonder, no clear reason) | 不思議と落ち着く |
| なぜか | “for some reason” (no clear reason, neutral) | なぜか気になる |
| なんとなく | “somehow, vaguely” (a vague feeling) | なんとなく嫌だ |
| 案の定 | “sure enough, as expected” (anticipated) | 案の定失敗した |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Mixing the two forms: 不思議と ＋ action (adverb); 不思議なことに ＋ a whole sentence (head comment); ✗ 不思議となことに.
- Adding を/だ: ✗ 不思議とを/不思議とだ → 不思議と is an adverb, modifying a verb directly.
- Opposite of 案の定: 不思議と = unexpected, inexplicable; 案の定 = as expected.
- Nuance: it carries wonder, the marvelous; not for things that are a matter of course.
💡 Nuance & When to Use
不思議と・不思議なことに mean “strangely, oddly enough,” expressing wonder at a curious phenomenon that happened inexplicably and unexpectedly yet really did (somehow not nervous, oddly the wallet came back, inexplicably the pain vanished). 不思議と is an adverb modifying the action directly, lighter in tone; 不思議なことに sits at the head, commenting on the whole event, more dignified. Both carry the marvel of “can't figure it out, yet it happened.” The opposite of 案の定 (as expected). A must at N1.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- Commonly tested at N1: 不思議と = strangely (adverb); 不思議なことに = oddly enough (head comment).
- Connection: 不思議と modifies the action directly; 不思議なことに sits at the head.
- Distinction: 不思議と (unexpected wonder) vs 案の定 (as expected); vs なんとなく (vague).
🖊️ 練習題（5題）
Q1. 「___、彼といると元気が出る。」（不知怎地）
(A) 不思議と (B) 確実に (C) 明らかに (D) 確かに
Q2. 「___、財布が戻ってきた。」（奇怪的是）
(A) 不思議なことに (B) 当然のことに (C) 案の定 (D) もちろん
Q3. 「不思議と緊張しなかった」の意味は?
(A) 不知怎地竟不緊張
(B) 非常緊張
(C) 故意不緊張
(D) 必須緊張
Q4. 「不思議と」の語感は?
(A) 說不出原因卻如此（帶驚奇）
(B) 有明確原因
(C) 命令
(D) 條件
Q5. 用法が自然なのは?
(A) 不思議と涙が止まった。 (B) 不思議とを食べる。
(C) 不思議となことに。 (D) 不思議とだ高い。
答案解析
1. (A) 不思議と ── 不知怎地有精神。
2. (A) 不思議なことに ── 奇怪的是錢包回來了。
3. (A) ── 不知怎地竟不緊張。
4. (A) ── 說不出原因卻如此(驚奇)。
5. (A) ── 「不思議と涙が止まった」正確。