If only there were a single word that could convey "difficult to translate without using more than one word", alas the closest we have is "untranslatable".
I think it's a useful warning signal that any attempted translation is provisional, has limited scope and can't be relied on. A less absolute word or phrase might give the impression that a straightforward translation is possible, but 'untranslatable' is a stark warning.
simonh|9 years ago