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无能为力 (wú néng wéi lì) — (idiom) powerless, helpless, unable to do anything about it

Definition

Emphasizes that one's ability or power is the limit, not just having no choice — stronger than 无奈 and 无可奈何 (which focus on the situation). Pairs naturally with 无能 and 无力 in writing.

idiom
powerlesshelplessunable to do anything about it

Examples

  • ，无能为力。
    Miàn duì zhè yàng de qíng kuàng, tā gǎn dào wú néng wéi lì.
    Faced with such a situation, he felt powerless.
  • 无能为力，。
    Wǒ yǐ jīng wú néng wéi lì le, zhǐ néng jiē shòu xiàn shí.
    I'm already helpless; I can only accept reality.
  • ，无能为力。
    Wú lùn tā zěn me nǔ lì, tā hái shì wú néng wéi lì.
    No matter how hard he tried, he was still powerless.

Origin

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 無; 无 is its simplified writing.

For the simplified 无, the story is about 無. 無 drew a person dancing with ox tails held in both hands to pray for rain, then was borrowed for 'have no', so the picture does not explain that meaning.

Open 无 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

能 is an old picture of a bear, showing two paws and a face with an open mouth.

Open 能 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 為; 为 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 為 showed a hand holding an elephant; the simplified 为 is a later shorthand.

Open 为 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

力 is drawn as either an arm bending out from the side of the body or a wooden plough.

Open 力 →
Appears in
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