Chinese word

没法儿

Pronunciation

Pinyinméi fǎr

Meaning

  • adjectivecan't

Example

我没法儿参加明天的会议。wǒ méi fǎr cān jiā míng tiān de huì yì

I can't attend tomorrow's meeting.

Illustration for 没法儿 (can't)

More examples

我没法儿联系他。wǒ méi fǎr lián xì tā

I can't contact him.

Core concept

An action has no workable path forward, or a fixed situation has no way to change.

Common phrases

  • 没法儿参加méi fǎr cān jiā

    can't attend

  • 没法儿联系méi fǎr lián xì

    can't contact

  • 没法儿说服méi fǎr shuō fú

    can't persuade

Similar words

没办法méi bàn fǎ: Unable to do something or fix a problem when no workable solution can be found.
无法wú fǎ: Not able to perform an action because the necessary conditions or means are lacking.
无奈wú nài: Forced to accept an unwanted situation because changing it is not possible.
没辙méi zhé: Left with absolutely no way to solve a problem or deal with it.

Definition in Chinese

口语。表示无法用现有手段实现某事，也可作为对无法改变情况的无奈回应。kóu yǔ biǎo shì wú fǎ yòng xiàn yǒu shǒu duàn shí xiàn mǒu shì yě kě zuò wéi duì wú fǎ gǎi biàn qíng kuàng de wú nài huí yìng

Word origin

没法儿 (méifǎér, "no way") combines 没 (méi, "not have") and 法 (fǎ, "way"), with a spoken r-ending that gives the form its colloquial character.

Usage tips

  • In a reply to a request, this expression often presents circumstances as the reason rather than sounding like a simple refusal, so an explanation or alternative can make the stance clear.

Other meanings

  • impossibleadjective
  • can't be helpedadjective

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word