Too profound or subtle to be understood or fathomed; inscrutable; enigmatic; beyond comprehension, often implying a deliberate obscurity in one's demeanor, speech, or intentions.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Antonym:
Story:
During the Western Han Dynasty, Yan Yiannian, the upright prefect of Zhuo Commandery, soon after taking office, learned that the local Gao family committed all sorts of evil deeds. He dispatched his subordinate, Zhao Xiu, to investigate. When Zhao Xiu attempted to secretly cover up for the Gao family, Yan Yiannian had him executed.
Yan Yiannian's approach to handling cases was different from other officials; he specifically targeted powerful local figures. Neither officials nor common people could ever fathom his true intentions or methods.