Definition
This is a chengyu (four-character idiom) that literally means 'so deep it cannot be measured' — originally describing an abyss or body of water. Figuratively, it extends to anything too complex, mysterious, or profound to understand: a person's thoughts, a situation, or a skill. It emphasizes an unbridgeable gap between what you see and what lies beneath.
f.e.
fathomless (literal depth, of water or space)unfathomablebeyond comprehension (figurative, of feelings, motives, mysteries, or expertise)
Examples
- 深不可测，。Zhège hú shēn bù kě cè, méi rén gǎn xiàqù yóuyǒng.This lake is fathomless; nobody dares to swim in it.
- 深不可测，。Tā nèixīn shēn bù kě cè, méi rén zhīdào tā zài xiǎng shénme.His heart is unfathomable; nobody knows what he's thinking.
- 深不可测，。Zhège yǔzhòu de àomì shēn bù kě cè, kēxuéjiāmen hái zài tànsuǒ.The mysteries of this universe are unfathomable; scientists are still exploring.
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