〜べくもない
Formation
Meaning
Indicates that something is absolutely impossible or unachievable.
Note
A formal and literary expression. It implies that given the current situation, there is zero possibility for an action to occur, even if one might wish for it. Often used with verbs of mental activity like 'knowing' (shiru) or 'imagining' (souzou suru).
Examples
彼が何を考えているのかは、私には知るべくもない。
There is no way for me to know what he is thinking.
今回の不祥事は、弁明の余地などあろうはずもなく、許されるべくもない。
This scandal has no room for excuses and is absolutely unforgivable.
その当時の苦労は、今の若い人たちには想像すべくもないだろう。
The hardships of that time are something today's young people couldn't possibly imagine.
平和な日本に住む私たちには、戦地の惨状は知るべくもない。
For us living in peaceful Japan, there is no way to know the tragedy of the war zone.
優勝を逃した彼の悔しさは、部外者の私たちが計り知るべくもない。
The frustration he felt after missing the championship is beyond anything we outsiders can fathom.
これほどの規模のプロジェクトが成功するかどうかは、今の段階では予測すべくもない。
At this stage, there is no way to predict whether a project of this scale will succeed.