可言 (kě yán) — can be said; it may be said (often used in negative constructions)
Definition
A formal/literary verb used almost entirely in negative constructions like 不可言 and 无/难以言 to mean 'cannot be put into words' — the unspeakable or inexpressible.
verb
can be saidit may be said (often used in negative constructions)
Examples
- 。Tā de tòng kǔ bù kě yán.His pain is unspeakable.
- ，。Zhè jiàn shì wú kě yán, zhǐ néng chén mò.This matter cannot be said; one can only remain silent.
- ，。Zhè zhǒng gǎn shòu hěn nán biǎo dá, dàn bìng bú shì bù kě yán.This feeling is hard to express, but it is not unspeakable.
Appears in
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