noun-modifying (irregular)
indescribable; inexpressible; exquisite
A literary, prenominal expression meaning something is so wonderful, beautiful, or profound that it cannot be put into words. Often used in poetic or emotional contexts.
See also: えもいわれぬ
えも言えぬ美しさに、ただ見とれるばかりだった。
I could only gaze in wonder at the indescribable beauty.
彼女の歌声には、えも言えぬ魅力がある。
Her singing voice has an inexpressible charm.
It is usually written in kana. The kanji spelling is literary and less common.
Kanji spelling using 得 for え; very rare and mostly seen in older or highly literary texts.
A fossilized classical construction comprising え, from 得る and used with a negative predicate to mean “cannot,” plus も and 言えぬ, the negative form of 言う.