What are a few alternative ways to say "to expect"?

Question

There are many situations I'd like to say the following in Chinese:

• "That phone call was unexpected"
• "I did not expect that meeting to be so difficult"

The only approach I know of is:

• "我没想到那个电话“
• ”我没想到那个会议会是哪么难“

I know you can also use 突然, but it's not quite parallel. The best way I can think of applying it in this situation is:

• 那个电话突然来了

Appreciate anyone's thoughts on this!

Thanks

Answer 1

不可预知的情况 not can predict situation = an unexpected situation
出乎意料的形势 unexpected circumstance
不意外 not unexpected
意外 unexpected 竟然 unexpected

’那个打过来的电话是意料之外的。‘ 或者 ‘没想到那个电话会打过来。’
That phone call was unexpected.

会议比我预料中的难很多。 The meeting was much more difficult than I expected.