Translation guide
The English word 'fathom' has two main uses: a unit of depth (6 feet) and the verb meaning 'to understand deeply.' This guide focuses on the verb sense, as the unit is rarely needed in everyday Japanese.
To comprehend something complex or mysterious after much thought.
The most direct and common translation for 'understand.' Works in most contexts.
It's hard to fathom his feelings.
Implies grasping the full picture or situation. Slightly more formal.
Emphatic: 'cannot possibly understand.' Stronger than just 'hard to fathom.'
A nautical unit equal to 6 feet (about 1.83 meters).
The Japanese unit 'hiro,' traditionally about 1.8 meters. Rarely used outside nautical contexts.
Unless you are in a historical or nautical context, avoid using 尋 (hiro). Use meters instead.
It took time to fathom the situation.
Literally 'struggle to understand.' Used when something is hard to fathom.
His behavior is hard to fathom.
I cannot fathom the reason at all.
水深は10尋です。
The depth is 10 fathoms.
In modern Japanese, depths are usually given in meters. Convert fathoms to meters (1 fathom ≈ 1.83 m).
The depth is about 10 fathoms.