不得已而为之 (bú) — to have no other choice but to do something; to be forced to do something as a last resort
Definition
A formal, written idiom meaning 'to do something only because there was no alternative' — stronger and more literary than simply saying 没办法/不得不. Use it for decisions you regret or had no real choice in.
verb
to have no other choice but to do somethingto be forced to do something as a last resort
Examples
- 不得已而为之，。Tā zhè yàng zuò wán quán shì bú, nǐ bié guài tā.He did this completely because he had no other choice; don't blame him.
- 不得已而为之。Gōng sī cái yuán shì bú de jué dìng.The company's layoffs were a last-resort decision.
- ，不得已而为之。Zài nà zhǒng qíng kuàng xià, wǒ zhǐ néng bú.In that situation, I had no choice but to do it.
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