Chinese word

无力

Pronunciation

Pinyinwú lì

Meaning

  • adjectivepowerless

Example

我现在感到很无力。wǒ xiàn zài gǎn dào hěn wú lì

I feel very powerless right now.

Illustration for 无力 (powerless)

More examples

政府在这件事上显得无力。zhèng fǔ zài zhè jiàn shì shàng xiǎn de wú lì

The government seems powerless in this matter.

Core concept

A person or effort has too little force to push back, act effectively, or steer what happens.

Common phrases

  • 感到无力gǎn dào wú lì

    feel powerless

  • 显得无力xiǎn de wú lì

    appear powerless

  • 无力反抗wú lì fǎn kàng

    be unable to resist

Similar words

没力气méi lì qì: Having too little physical energy or strength to move or work.
虚弱xū ruò: Physically weak from illness or tiredness and easily worn out by small efforts.
无助wú zhù: Without the help or support needed to handle a situation alone.
软弱ruǎn ruò: Weak in will or determination and unable to stand firm in difficulty.

Definition in Chinese

没有力量或能力去抵抗、行动或产生效果，也可指精神上失去斗志或控制感。méi yǒu lì liàng huò néng lì qù dǐ kàng xíng dòng huò chǎn shēng xiào guǒ yě kě zhǐ jīng shén shàng shī qù dòu zhì huò kòng zhì gǎn

Word origin

无力 (wúlì, "lacking strength") is formed from 无 (wú, "without") + 力 (lì, "strength"), allowing a physical idea to describe limited ability, lost resolve, or an effort with no effect.

Usage tips

  • English often treats strength as mainly physical, while this adjective can describe a response or policy that achieves nothing, so it also applies to situations and actions.

Other meanings

  • weakadjective
  • be unable to resistverb
  • ineffectiveadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 无力感wú lì gǎnsense of powerlessnessnoun

Word lists with this word