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This site will be taken down March 31st, 2026.

This was not an easy decision to make. For the last couple years, I have been struggling to find motivation for this site and to keep up with basic maintenance and security updates. With the rise of AI and more sophisticated tools, the usefulness of sites like this is questionable and traffic has nose-dived. I just don't have it in me to keep doing this. Thank you all for 10 years of support!

Zach

不意をつく

不意を突く、 不意を衝く

Reading

Kana: ふいをつく
Romaji: fuiwotsuku
Kana
Romaji

Definition

exp
v5k
1

to take by surprise

See also: 不意を討つ

Kanji

不
Readings: フ、 ブ
Meanings: negative, non-, bad, ugly, clumsy
意
Reading: イ
Meanings: idea, mind, heart, taste, thought, desire, care, liking
突
Readings: トツ、 カ、 つ.く
Meanings: stab, protruding, thrust, pierce, prick, collision, sudden
衝
Readings: ショウ、 つ.く
Meanings: collide, brunt, highway, opposition (astronomy), thrust, pierce, stab, prick

Example Sentences

我々(われわれ)は敵(てき)の不意(ふい)をついた。
➥We took the enemy by surprise.
Full Entry➤
不意(ふい)をつかれて、私(わたし)は一言(ひとこと)も言(い)えなかった。
➥Taken by surprise, I could not speak a word.
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先月(せんげつ)私達(わたしたち)が係(かか)わっていたＸＹＺプロジェクトについて今日(きょう)社長(しゃちょう)から質問(しつもん)を受(う)け、その答(こた)えを用意(ようい)していなかったので正(まさ)に不意(ふい)をつかれた形(かたち)になってしまった。
➥The boss caught me napping today when he asked me about that XYZ project we worked on last month.
Full Entry➤
そのニュースは彼(かれ)の不意(ふい)をついた。
➥The news took him by surprise.
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刑事(けいじ)はウエイトレスの不意(ふい)をついて真相(しんそう)を聞(きだ)き出()した。
➥The detective surprised the truth from the waitress.
Full Entry➤
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