回天乏术 (huí tiān fá shù) — unable to save the situation; powerless to turn things around
Definition
Idiom for 'powerless to reverse a desperate situation' — used when every effort has failed and the outcome is already sealed. Lit. 'lacking the art to turn back heaven'.
idiom
unable to save the situationpowerless to turn things around
Examples
- ,,回天乏术。Yī shēng jìn lì qiǎng jiù, dàn bìng rén shāng shì tài zhòng, yǐ shì huí tiān fá shù.The doctors did their best, but the patient's injuries were too severe — the situation was beyond saving.
- ,回天乏术。Gōng sī pò chǎn yǐ chéng dìng jú, guǎn lǐ céng gǎn dào huí tiān fá shù.The company's bankruptcy was already a foregone conclusion, and management felt powerless to reverse it.
- ,回天乏术。Suī rán tā nǔ lì wǎn huí, dàn jú miàn yǐ jīng huí tiān fá shù le.Although he tried hard to salvage it, the situation was already hopeless.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.