優劣つけがたい · i-adjective
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 優劣つけがたい | 優劣つけがたくない |
| Polite | 優劣つけがたいです | 優劣つけがたくないですalso 優劣つけがたくありません |
| Past polite | 優劣つけがたかったです | 優劣つけがたくなかったですalso 優劣つけがたくありませんでした |
| Past | 優劣つけがたかった | 優劣つけがたくなかった |
| Te-form | 優劣つけがたくて | 優劣つけがたくなくて |
| Adverbial | 優劣つけがたく | |
| Conditional | 優劣つけがたければ | 優劣つけがたくなければ |
| Tara conditional | 優劣つけがたかったら | 優劣つけがたくなかったら |
hard to choose between; equally matched; of comparable quality
Used when two or more things are so excellent or similar in quality that it is difficult to decide which is better. Often implies both are outstanding.
These two works are hard to choose between.
Their abilities are equally matched.
Very similar in meaning, but 甲乙つけがたい explicitly uses the metaphor of 'first and second' (甲 and 乙), while 優劣つけがたい uses 'superiority and inferiority' (優劣). Both are interchangeable in most contexts.
Standard spelling using the kana for つけ and がたい.
Kanji spelling for つけ and がたい; less common but still seen.
Compound of 優劣 (superiority/inferiority) + つけ (stem of 付ける, to attach/assign) + がたい (hard to do). Literally 'hard to assign superiority or inferiority'.