“〜nantomo ienai・〜nantomo 〜nai”: Indescribable / Couldn't Care Less [JLPT N1]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

「何とも言えない味」「批判されても何とも思わない」 — the ending decides the meaning.

「何とも言えない表情」 — that indescribable, subtle something you can't put a word to

Some feelings are so complex and subtle you can't find a word for them — 「彼は何とも言えない表情をしていた (he wore an indescribable expression).」 「〜何ともいえない／なんとも言えない」 = indescribable, hard to put into words (too complex and subtle to describe)／impossible to say for sure. This guide clarifies its two uses — “① an indescribable subtlety” and “② impossible to determine” — its praise-or-blame neutrality, and separating it from 「言葉にできない」「微妙」「なんとも思わない.」

Core: an indescribable subtlety／impossible to determine

「何とも言えない（なんとも言えない）」 has two core senses:

① (a feeling, taste, expression) indescribable, a subtlety you can't put a word to — too complex, too subtle to find fitting language:

• 温泉に浸かると、何とも言えない幸福感に包まれる (soaking in a hot spring, you're wrapped in an indescribable happiness).
• このスープは、何とも言えない深い味わいがある (this soup has an indescribable, deep flavor).

② (a situation, outcome) impossible to determine, can't say for sure — too little information to judge:

• 試合の結果は、今の時点では何とも言えない (the match's outcome, at this point, can't be said for sure).
• 彼が来るかどうかは、何とも言えないね (whether he'll come, you really can't say).

Feel: ① emphasizes “a feeling too complex, subtle to put into words” (often with admiration or intrigue), ② emphasizes “unable to assert due to lack of information” (reserved, not concluding). In English: “indescribable, hard to put into words／impossible to say, can't determine.”

Attachment & forms

Examples in use

• 賞をもらった瞬間の、あの何とも言えない達成感は忘れられない。(That indescribable sense of achievement the moment I got the award, I can't forget.) — use ①
• 古い写真を見ると、何とも言えない懐かしさがこみ上げる。(Looking at old photos, an indescribable nostalgia wells up.) — use ①
• 経済が今後どうなるかは、専門家でも何とも言えない。(How the economy will go, even experts can't say for sure.) — use ②
• 「勝てそう?」「うーん、何とも言えないなあ。」(“Think you can win?” “Hmm, can't really say.”) — use ②
• 彼女は何とも言えない複雑な笑みを浮かべた。(She wore an indescribable, complex smile.) — use ①

⚠️ Where learners slip up

① It has two meanings — ① an indescribable subtlety, ② impossible to determine — told apart by context. This is the key point. 「何とも言えない」 seems to just mean “can't say,” but has two different directions, told apart by context. ① (a feeling, taste, expression) indescribable, a subtlety you can't put a word to: the subject is mostly a mood, feeling, taste, expression, for “too complex, subtle to find a word”: 何とも言えない幸福感 (indescribable happiness), 何とも言えない表情 (an indescribable expression). ② (a situation, outcome) impossible to determine, can't say for sure: the subject is mostly a future outcome, situation, yes-or-no, for “unable to judge due to lack of information”: 結果は何とも言えない (the outcome can't be said), どうなるか何とも言えない (how it'll go can't be said). Test: followed by a noun (mood／taste／expression), for “an indescribable ～” → ① subtle; the subject is an outcome／situation／future, for “unable to assert” → ② can't say.

② ⭐Use ① is praise-or-blame neutral — not necessarily negative, often instead “so good you can't describe it.” This is where Learners often misread. 「何とも言えない」's use ① (indescribable) is neutral, even often positive — it can be “so good, so beautiful, so exquisite it defies words” (admiration), or “complex, subtle, intriguing,” not necessarily negative: 何とも言えない美しさ (indescribable beauty — high praise), 何とも言えない幸福感 (indescribable happiness — positive), 何とも言えないいい香り (an indescribably nice scent — positive). So on seeing 「何とも言えない」 modify a feeling, don't assume it's negative or “hard to say”; it's often the admiration “(so good it's) beyond description.” Test: 何とも言えない ＋ a positive word (美しさ／幸福感／いい味) = so good it defies description (admiration).

③ Separate it from 「なんとも思わない／なんともない」 — those are ‘not at all／fine,' not ‘indescribable.' These look alike but mean entirely differently — don't mix. 「何とも言えない」 = indescribable／can't say for sure (this lesson). 「なんとも思わない」 = not bothered at all, think nothing of it (なんとも ＋ 思わない): 何を言われてもなんとも思わない (whatever they say, I'm not bothered at all). 「なんともない」 = it's nothing, fine, no problem (なんとも ＋ ない): 怪我はなんともない (the injury is nothing), 私はなんともないよ (I'm fine). These two are “なんとも ＋ negative,” for “not at all ～, it's nothing,” different from 「何とも言え『ない』(indescribable)” — the latter is “unable to ‘say,'” the former is “not ‘bothered' at all／‘nothing' wrong.” Test: なんとも ＋ 思わない／ない = not at all, it's nothing; 何とも ＋ 言えない = indescribable, can't say. Don't read 「なんともない (it's nothing)」 as “indescribable.”

🔄 Compare: 何とも言えない／言葉にできない／微妙／なんとも思わない

💡 The one thing to remember

「〜何ともいえない／なんとも言えない」 = indescribable, hard to put into words／impossible to determine — three points: ① it has two meanings — ① (a feeling, taste, expression) an indescribable subtlety, ② (an outcome, situation) impossible to determine, told apart by context; ②⭐use ① is praise-or-blame neutral, often instead “so good you can't describe it” (何とも言えない美しさ = indescribable beauty, admiration — don't assume negative); ③ separate it from 「なんとも思わない (not bothered at all)／なんともない (it's nothing)」 — those are “なんとも ＋ negative,” not “indescribable.” This expression is very handy — when a feeling, taste, atmosphere is too complex and subtle to put a single word to (whether so good you can't say, or intriguing), 「何とも言えない」 is the aptest phrase; and when you can't yet judge an outcome, 「今は何とも言えない (can't say yet)」 is a lovely reserved, non-dogmatic answer.

❓ Common questions

Q: Is 「何とも言えない味」 tasty or not?

Usually leaning ‘good' — it's the admiration “so good／exquisite it defies description,” not negative. This is where Chinese speakers most easily misread. When 「何とも言えない」 modifies a feeling, taste, it's praise-or-blame neutral, even often positive, its core being “so complex, subtle, deep it defies words.” Applied to “味,” 「何とも言えない味わい」 is mostly admiration — “a deep, indescribable deliciousness” (so good, so exquisite that a simple ‘tasty' won't capture it): この料理には、何とも言えない深い味わいがある (this dish has an indescribable deep flavor — high praise). It stresses “this taste is too subtle, too layered for a simple word,” usually good. ⚠️Don't mix it with the colloquial 「微妙」 — 「味は微妙」 is the negative hint “(a bit) hard to say, not that tasty.” So: 「何とも言えない味」 = an indescribable (good) taste (admiration, positive); 「微妙な味」 = an iffy taste (negative). Test: to admire “so good／exquisite it defies words ～” → 何とも言えない; to hint “a bit meh, hard to say” → 微妙. On seeing 「何とも言えない」 modify a taste or feeling, first read it as the admiration “(so good it's) indescribable,” don't assume negative.

Q: 「何とも言えない」 and 「言葉にできない」 both mean ‘can't put into words' — what's the difference?

The difference is ‘subtle, complex' vs ‘too moving, overwhelming.' 「何とも言えない」 = indescribably subtle／can't say for sure (praise-or-blame neutral): its core is “too complex, subtle to find a fitting word,” its feel more neutral, subtle, intriguing — it can be positive (so good you can't say), a complex hard-to-read mood, or “undeterminable”: 何とも言えない表情 (an indescribable, subtle expression — perhaps complex, awkward, meaningful), 何とも言えない気持ち (a complex, subtle mood), 結果は何とも言えない (the outcome can't be said). 「言葉にできない」 = can't put into words (mostly because too moving, overwhelming): its core is “emotion, shock too strong to express in words,” its feel more intense, positive, lyrical: 優勝した時の喜びは、言葉にできない (the joy of winning can't be put into words — intense emotion), その景色の美しさは言葉にできない (that scenery's beauty is beyond words — intense praise). Difference: 「何とも言えない」 leans “subtle, complex, intriguing,” more neutral, can mean undeterminable; 「言葉にできない」 leans “too moving, overwhelming to say,” more intense, lyrical, positive. Test: to say “too complex, subtle to describe” (or undeterminable) → 何とも言えない; to say “(emotion, shock) too intense to put into words” → 言葉にできない. In short: 何とも言えない = subtly indescribable (neutral); 言葉にできない = too moving for words (intense).

🖊️ Practice Quiz

Q1. 「優勝できるかは、今の時点では___。」(can't say yet)

(A) 何とも言えない　(B) 何ともない　(C) 何とも思わない　(D) 何でもない

Q2. What does 「何とも思わない」 mean?

(A) don't mind at all / think nothing of it

(B) mind very much

(C) it's fine

(D) hard to describe

Q3. What does 「何ともない」 mean?

(A) it's nothing / I'm fine

(B) hard to describe

(C) don't mind at all

(D) there's definitely something wrong

Q4. What does 「何とも言えない味」 mean?

(A) an indescribable (subtle) taste

(B) no taste

(C) a very ordinary taste

(D) bad-tasting

Q5. Which usage is natural?

(A) 批判されても何とも思わない。

(B) 結果は何ともない。

(C) 何とも言えない、けがはない。

(D) 何とも思わないを食べる。

Answer Key

1. (A) 何とも言えない ── can't say yet (can't tell whether one will win).

2. (A) ── don't mind at all / think nothing of it.

3. (A) ── it's nothing / I'm fine.

4. (A) ── an indescribable (subtle) taste.

5. (A) 批判されても何とも思わない ── I don't mind even being criticized (natural usage).