意を得ない · i-adjective
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 意を得ない | 意を得なくない |
| Polite | 意を得ないです | 意を得なくないですalso 意を得なくありません |
| Past polite | 意を得なかったです | 意を得なくなかったですalso 意を得なくありませんでした |
| Past | 意を得なかった | 意を得なくなかった |
| Te-form | 意を得なくて | 意を得なくなくて |
| Adverbial | 意を得なく | |
| Conditional | 意を得なければ | 意を得なくなければ |
| Tara conditional | 意を得なかったら | 意を得なくなかったら |
beyond comprehension; cannot make sense of
Fixed expression meaning something is impossible to understand or grasp. Often used when a situation, statement, or action is baffling. Related to the affirmative 意を得る (to understand).
See also: 意を得る
His explanation was completely beyond comprehension.
I cannot make sense of why he did such a thing.
A fixed negative expression derived from 意 (meaning, intention) + を + 得る (to get, to grasp) in its negative form. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it is a set phrase meaning 'cannot grasp the meaning'.