Chinese word

不得已

Pronunciation

Pinyinbù dé yǐ

Meaning

  • adverbhave no choice but to

Example

我不得已才这样做。wǒ bù dé yǐ cái zhè yàng zuò

I only did this because I had no choice.

Illustration for 不得已 (have no choice but to)

More examples

因为突发情况，他不得已取消了会议。yīn wèi tū fā qíng kuàng tā bù dé yǐ qǔ xiāo le huì yì

Because of an unexpected situation, he had no choice but to cancel the meeting.

Core concept

A path narrows until only one unwanted action remains.

Common phrases

  • 不得已地bù dé yǐ dì

    out of necessity

  • 出于不得已chū yú bù dé yǐ

    out of necessity

  • 不得已才bù dé yǐ cái

    only out of necessity

Similar words

不得不bù dé bù: Being unable to avoid an action because circumstances make it necessary.
没办法méi bàn fǎ: Having no way to deal with a problem and being left to accept what happens.
迫不得已pò bù dé yǐ: Taking action reluctantly when an urgent situation allows no alternative.
无奈wú nài: Expressing helplessness and resignation about a situation that cannot be changed.

Definition in Chinese

表示在没有其他选择或办法的情况下，只好做出某种行为或决定，含有被迫或无奈的意味。biǎo shì zài méi yǒu qí tā xuǎn zé huò bàn fǎ de qíng kuàng xià zhí hǎo zuò chū móu zhǒng xíng wéi huò jué dìng hán yǒu bèi pò huò wú nài de yì wèi

Word origin

不得已 (bùdéyǐ, "have no choice") combines 不 (bù, "not") + 得 (dé, "be able to") + 已 (yǐ, "stop"), giving the sense of being unable to take any other course.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, this adverb often sounds formal and weighty, so it suits explanations that emphasize genuine reluctance rather than a casual reason.

Other meanings

  • unavoidableadjective
  • no alternativeadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 迫不得已pò bù dé yǐbe forced toidiom
  • 不得已而为之bù dé yǐ ér wéi zhīdo so out of necessityidiom

Word lists with this word