筆ひつ舌ぜつに尽つくしがたい

ひ

つ

ぜ

つ

に

つ

く

し

が

た

い

Meanings

1

expression, i-adjective

beyond description; indescribable; inexpressible

A formal, literary set phrase meaning that something cannot be adequately expressed in words or writing. Often used in emotional or profound contexts.

その光こう景けいの美うつくしさは筆ひつ舌ぜつに尽つくしがたい。
The beauty of that scene is beyond description.
彼かれ

の

悲かな

しみ

は

筆ひつ

舌ぜつ

に

尽つ

くし

がたい

もの

だっ

た

。

His sorrow was indescribable.

Written forms

筆ひつ舌ぜつに尽つくしがたい
Standard kanji spelling using 尽くしがたい.
筆ひつ舌ぜつに尽つくし難がたい
Variant using 難い instead of がたい; slightly more formal or literary feel.

Kanji

筆writing brush, writing, painting brush
舌tongue, reed, clapper
尽exhaust, use up, run out of
難difficult, impossible, trouble

Similar words

言いい表あらわせない
More colloquial and direct; 筆舌に尽くしがたい is a formal, literary set phrase.
言こと葉ばにできない
Common spoken expression; 筆舌に尽くしがたい is more emphatic and often used in writing.

Etymology

A fixed four-character phrase combining 筆舌 (writing and speech) with 尽くしがたい (hard to exhaust). The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a classical literary expression.