Chinese word

没辙

Pronunciation

Pinyinméi zhé

Meaning

  • adjectivehelpless

Example

他的公司破产了，他也没辙。tā de gōng sī pò chǎn le tā yě méi zhé

His company went bankrupt, and he could do nothing about it.

Illustration for 没辙 (helpless)

More examples

遇到技术难题时，团队讨论了很久，还是没辙。yù dào jì shù nán tí shí tuán duì tǎo lùn le hěn jiǔ hái shì méi zhé

When the team encountered a technical problem, they discussed it for a long time but still could do nothing about it.

Core concept

A problem reaches a dead end after every practical path has been tried or blocked.

Common phrases

  • 完全没辙wán quán méi zhé

    completely helpless

  • 一时没辙yì shí méi zhé

    temporarily at a loss

Similar words

无奈wú nài: Helpless in a situation, with a sense of resignation or regret.
无能为力wú néng wéi lì: Lacking the power or means to step in and resolve a problem.
无可奈何wú kě nài hé: Forced to accept an unwanted situation because no alternative remains.

Definition in Chinese

表示已经尽了各种办法仍无法改变或解决某种情况，强调无可奈何和没有后续手段。biǎo shì yǐ jīng jǐn le gè zhǒng bàn fǎ réng wú fǎ gǎi biàn huò jiě jué móu zhǒng qíng kuàng qiáng diào wú kě nài hé hé méi yǒu hòu xù shǒu duàn

Word origin

没辙 (méizhé, "no route") is formed from 没 (méi, "not have") and 辙 (zhé, "wheel track"), creating the image of a vehicle with no track left to follow.

Usage tips

  • English helpless can describe a general emotional state, while this Chinese word often points to a specific situation in which further action seems unavailable.

Other meanings

  • no way outadjective
  • nothing can be doneadjective

Opposites

  • 可解决kě jiě juésolvableadjective

Word lists with this word