Abstract: This paper explores the question of translatability/untranslatability from the physical and metaphysical perspectives by examining the Japanese translation of the classical Chinese poem “In the Quiet Night” (Jingye si). This paper argues that translatability depends on being effable. While translatability is more important at the metaphysical level, translatability and untranslatability are interdependent at the physical level. The degree of translatability concerns both translatability and untranslatability.