Chinese word

没办法

Pronunciation

Pinyinméi bàn fǎ

Meaning

  • adjectiveno way

Example

这次考试失败了，我没办法。zhè cì kǎo shì shī bài le wǒ méi bàn fǎ

I failed the exam this time, and there is nothing I can do.

Illustration for 没办法 (no way)

More examples

车在半路抛锚了，附近又没人修理，只能说没办法。chē zài bàn lù pāo máo le fù jìn yòu méi rén xiū lǐ zhǐ néng shuō méi bàn fǎ

The car broke down halfway there, and no one nearby could repair it, so we could only say that there was no way.

Core concept

A spoken sense that circumstances leave no workable course, so the situation is accepted for now.

Common phrases

  • 我真没办法wǒ zhēn méi bàn fǎ

    I really can't do anything

  • 没办法解决méi bàn fǎ jiě jué

    can't solve it

  • 没办法接受méi bàn fǎ jiē shòu

    can't accept it

Similar words

无奈wú nài: Describing reluctant acceptance when no hope or solution remains.
无可奈何wú kě nài hé: Describing a helpless situation where every possible action has failed.
无能为力wú néng wéi lì: Describing a lack of power or ability to deal with and solve a problem.
没辙méi zhé: Describing a casual situation in which no idea or practical move can help.

Definition in Chinese

表示因外部条件或客观的限制无法解决问题，只能接受现状或暂时放弃的口语表达。biǎo shì yīn wài bù tiáo jiàn huò kè guān de xiàn zhì wú fǎ jiě jué wèn tí zhǐ néng jiē shòu xiàn zhuàng huò zàn shí fàng qì de kóu yǔ biǎo dá

Word origin

没办法 (méibànfǎ, "no way") is formed from 没 (méi, "not have") + 办 (bàn, "manage") + 法 (fǎ, "method"), giving the idea that no method remains for solving the problem.

Usage tips

  • Unlike the English phrase "no way," which often rejects a suggestion or expresses disbelief, this expression commonly conveys resignation about a situation.

Other meanings

  • give upverb

Opposites

  • 有办法yǒu bàn fǎhave a wayadjective

Related words

Word lists with this word