あろうことか

Japanese

Alternative spelling
有ろう事か

Etymology

あろう (arō, “to happen”, volitional) + 事(こと) (koto, “thing”) + か (ka, interrogative particle), lit., "Is this thing supposed to happen?"

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [a̠ɾo̞ː ko̞to̞ ka̠]

Adverb

あろうことか • (arō koto ka) 

1. very astonishing and appalling

   有(あ)ろう事(こと)か、大(だい)恩(おん)ある人(ひと)をだましてしまった

   arō koto ka, daion aru hito o damashite shimatta

   It's terrible; he deceived the one who once saved his life.