The low-lying structure of 94 40 Zr was studied with the (n, n γ ) reaction, and a level scheme was established based on excitation function and γ γ coincidence measurements. Branching ratios, multipole mixing ratios, and spin assignments were determined from angular distribution measurements. Lifetimes of levels up to 3.4 MeV were measured by the Doppler-shift attenuation method, and for many transitions the reduced transition probabilities were determined. In addition to the anomalous 2 + 2 state, which has a larger B(E2; 2 + 2 → 0 + 1 ) value than the B(E2; 2 + 1 → 0 + 1 ), the experimental results revealed interesting and unusual properties of the low-lying states in 94 Zr. In a simple interpretation, the excited states are classified in two distinct categories, i.e., those populating the 2 + 2 state and those decaying to the 2 + 1 state.