ことのほか（ことのほか）
JLPT N1 · noun
Pitch accent: heiban (flat) — starts low, then stays high with no drop
Meaning: unusually/unexpectedly
Example sentences
- 今年の冬はことのほか寒い。 — This winter is unusually cold.
- ことのほか喜んでもらえた。 — They were pleased far more than I expected.
Related words
See it used in real works
- Example sentences from Japanese novels & web fiction (Massif)
- Hear “ことのほか” pronounced in real videos (YouGlish)