无可奈何 (wú kě nài hé) — to have no alternative; to be helpless; there is nothing one can do
Definition
Literally 'nothing can be done about it' — emphasizes reluctant acceptance of an unavoidable situation, often with resignation. Weaker than 无能为力 (which says you *can't* act) and less desperate than 走投无路.
phrase
to have no alternativeto be helplessthere is nothing one can do
Examples
- ,无可奈何。Miàn duì zhè zhǒng qíng kuàng, tā wú kě nài hé.Faced with this situation, he had no choice.
- 无可奈何,。wú kě nài hé, Wǒ zhǐ néng tóng yì tā men de yāo qiú.Having no alternative, I could only agree to their demands.
- ,无可奈何。Hái zi kū gè bù tíng, mā ma wú kě nài hé dì yáo le yáo tóu.The child wouldn't stop crying, and the mother shook her head helplessly.
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