Chinese word

无可奈何

Pronunciation

Pinyinwú kě nài hé

Meaning

  • idiomhelpless

Example

我对这件事真是无可奈何。wǒ duì zhè jiàn shì zhēn shì wú kě nài hé

I really feel helpless about this.

Illustration for 无可奈何 (helpless)

More examples

这个问题真让人无可奈何。zhè ge wèn tí zhēn ràng rén wú kě nài hé

This problem really leaves people helpless.

Core concept

An unchangeable situation leaves every practical response blocked, with acceptance as the only remaining stance.

Common phrases

  • 让人无可奈何ràng rén wú kě nài hé

    make people feel helpless

  • 陷入无可奈何的局面xiàn rù wú kě nài hé de jú miàn

    fall into a helpless situation

  • 无可奈何的态度wú kě nài hé de tài dù

    a helpless attitude

Similar words

无能为力wú néng wéi lì: Having no power or means to affect a problem or situation.
心有余而力不足xīn yǒu yú ér lì bù zú: Having the wish to act but not enough ability or strength to carry it out.

Definition in Chinese

表示遇到无法改变或解决的境况，只能无力地接受的状态或感受。biǎo shì yù dào wú fǎ gǎi biàn huò jiě jué de jìng kuàng zhǐ néng wú lì dì jiē shòu de zhuàng tài huò gǎn shòu

Word origin

Its classical formation joins 无 (wú, "not") and 可 (kě, "possible") with 奈 (nài, "deal with") and 何 (hé, "what"), framing an unanswerable question as a situation with no workable course of action.

Usage tips

  • Unlike a neutral report of difficulty, this idiom usually marks the speaker's resigned attitude, making it especially natural in personal reactions.

Other meanings

  • have no choiceidiom

Opposites

  • 有计可施yǒu jì kě shīhave a solutionidiom

Word lists with this word