Translation guide
Describes something impossible to understand, measure, or comprehend fully. Often used for mysteries, depths, emotions, or complexity.
Expressing that something is beyond human understanding, often used for mysteries, motives, or the universe.
Common word meaning 'incomprehensible' or 'mysterious'. Used for things that defy logic or understanding.
彼の行動は不可解だ。
His behavior is unfathomable.
Literally 'beyond understanding'. A natural phrase for something that exceeds comprehension.
宇宙の広がりは理解を超えている。
The vastness of the universe is unfathomable.
Means 'immeasurable' or 'unfathomable'. Often used for abstract concepts like depth, influence, or potential.
彼の才能は計り知れない。
His talent is unfathomable.
Literary word meaning 'profound' or 'abstruse'. Implies deep, unfathomable wisdom or mystery.
その哲学は深遠で、簡単には理解できない。
That philosophy is unfathomable and not easily understood.
Describing physical or metaphorical depths that cannot be measured, like oceans, emotions, or mysteries.
Literally 'bottomless'. Used for unfathomable depths, both literal (ocean) and figurative (darkness, greed).
底知れない海の深さに恐怖を感じた。
I felt fear at the unfathomable depth of the ocean.
彼の欲望は底知れない。
His greed is unfathomable.
Noun meaning 'abyss' or 'unfathomable depths'. Often used metaphorically for profound mysteries or darkness.
Emphasizing the mysterious, puzzling quality of something unfathomable.
Adjective meaning 'mysterious' or 'enigmatic'. Describes something that invites curiosity but resists understanding.
彼女は謎めいた微笑を浮かべた。
She gave an unfathomable smile.
Also works for mysterious, inexplicable situations.
不可解な事件が続いている。
Unfathomable incidents keep occurring.
Common word for 'mysterious' or 'wondrous'. Softer than 'unfathomable' but can convey a sense of inexplicable wonder.
不可解 focuses on incomprehensibility (logic/motive). 計り知れない emphasizes immeasurability (scale/value). 底知れない suggests bottomless depth (often negative). Choose based on what aspect of 'unfathomable' you want to highlight.
Direct translations like '測り知れない' are less common. Stick to the expressions above for natural Japanese.
Also used for immeasurable depth or extent, similar to 'unfathomable' in scale.
計り知れない悲しみに沈んだ。
I sank into unfathomable sorrow.
彼の心の深淵は誰にもわからない。
The unfathomable depths of his heart are known to no one.
I can only think that some unfathomable power is at work.