不意打(ふいう)ち

ふいうち
noun
surprise attack; ambush; sucker punch
action
1. surprise attack; ambush; sucker punch
An attack or action that catches someone completely off guard. Used literally for physical attacks and figuratively for unexpected events, questions, or emotional shocks.
不意打(ふいう)ちを食(く)らった。
I was caught off guard.
敵(てき)の不意打(ふいう)ちに遭(あ)って大(おお)きな被害(ひがい)を受(う)けた。
We suffered heavy damage from the enemy's surprise attack.
面接(めんせつ)で不意打(ふいう)ちの質問(しつもん)をされて、うまく答(こた)えられなかった。
I was asked an unexpected question in the interview and couldn't answer well.

Usage

The most common pattern is 不意打(ふいう)ちを食(く)らう (to be hit with a surprise attack / to be caught off guard). Also used figuratively for unexpected questions, news, or emotional surprises.

Common collocations

  • 不意打(ふいう)ちを食(く)らう (to be caught off guard)
  • 不意打(ふいう)ちを掛(か)ける (to launch a surprise attack)
  • 不意打(ふいう)ちに遭(あ)う (to encounter a surprise attack)
  • 不意打(ふいう)ちの質問(しつもん) (an unexpected question)

Forms

不意(ふい) (unexpected; sudden) + 打(う)ち (strike). 不意(ふい) itself means "being caught unaware."

Related Words

Compare: 待(ま)ち伏(ぶ)せ (ambush)
general
Added 2026.3.12 18:00 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
16000/16416_fuiuchi