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.
His behavior is unfathomable.
Literally 'beyond understanding'. A natural phrase for something that exceeds comprehension.
The vastness of the universe is unfathomable.
Means 'immeasurable' or 'unfathomable'. Often used for abstract concepts like depth, influence, or potential.
His talent is unfathomable.
Literary word meaning 'profound' or 'abstruse'. Implies deep, unfathomable wisdom or mystery.
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).
I felt fear at the unfathomable depth of the ocean.
Also used for immeasurable depth or extent, similar to 'unfathomable' in scale.
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.
She gave an unfathomable smile.
Also works for mysterious, inexplicable situations.
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.
His greed is unfathomable.
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.
不可解な事件が続いている。
Unfathomable incidents keep occurring.
不思議な力が働いているとしか思えない。
I can only think that some unfathomable power is at work.