～かと思いきや

When to use

かと思いきや: you would have thought X, but no (勝つかと思いきや負けた).

Explanation

The ～かと思いきや grammar point is used when the outcome turns out different from what was initially assumed or expected. It can be translated as 'just when I thought...' or simply 'but (actually)...'. It often highlights that the speaker’s assumption was proven wrong by subsequent events.

• 明日あしたは晴はれるかと思おもいきや、まさかの雨あめが降ふった。

  I thought it would be sunny tomorrow, but unexpectedly it rained.

  Ashita wa hareru ka to omoikiya, masaka no ame ga futta.

• 彼かれが試験しけんに落おちたかと思おもいきや、合格ごうかくしていた。

  I thought he had failed the test, but he actually passed.

  Kare ga shiken ni ochita ka to omoikiya, goukaku shite ita.

• このケーキは美味おいしそうだったかと思おもいきや、全然ぜんぜん甘あまくなかった。

  I thought this cake would be delicious, but it wasn’t sweet at all.

  Kono keeki wa oishisou datta ka to omoikiya, zenzen amakunakatta.

• 列車れっしゃが遅おくれるかと思おもいきや、時間通じかんどおりに到着とうちゃくした。

  I thought the train would be late, but it arrived on time.

  Ressha ga okureru ka to omoikiya, jikan doori ni touchaku shita.

Concession (Even Though / Although / Despite)

• ～ても/でも〜te mo/demoN4Expresses 'even if' or 'even though'; used to convey…
• ～といっても〜to ittemoN3Express the meaning 'even though', 'although', 'but'.
• ～ところが〜tokoro gaN3Expresses a contrast or unexpected outcome; 'however'…
• A。それなのに B。~sorenanoniN2Express contrast or a contradiction between two situations…
• ～くせに〜kuse niN3Used to express criticism or disapproval; 'even though'…
• ～わりには〜wari ni waN3Expresses contrast between expectation and reality…
• ～にもかかわらず〜ni mo kakawarazuN2Expresses 'despite', 'in spite of' or 'even though'.
• ～ながらも〜nagara moN1Means 'even though' or 'despite'.
• Noun にしてNoun ni shiteN1Expresses the idea 'even for', 'even though', or 'in spite…
• ～とはいえ～to wa ieN1Even though; although; but
• ～といえども〜to iedomoN1Even if it is said that; Even though; Although.
• ～に反して〜ni hanshiteN2Contrary to, against, in spite of
• ～のに〜no niN4Used to express contrast between expectation and reality…
• ～ことは…が～koto wa... gaN3Indicates that while something may be true or valid, there…

Compare when to use each