神秘莫测
shén mì mò cè
mysterious and unfathomable
Character by character
神shén
mysterious
mysterious
秘mì
secret
secret
莫mò
cannot
cannot
测cè
fathom
fathom
Example
深海神秘莫测，人类至今只探索过其中很小的一部分。
The deep sea is mysterious and unfathomable; so far humans have explored only a tiny part of it.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
莫 is classical “no, cannot” and 测 “to fathom”; the same 莫测 is in 变幻莫测 (lesson 5-11). Said of places, forces and people whose depths cannot be seen: 神秘莫测的宇宙, 一个神秘莫测的人物.
Learn this in Lesson 174 · HSK 7–9: 三星堆 (Sanxingdui)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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