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wú 无 kě 可 nài 奈 hé 何

无可奈何 wú kě nài hé

to have no alternative; helpless and resigned

Literally: nothing can do what

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Origin

From the Shiji (Zhou Benji) and popularized by Yan Shu's Song lyric 无可奈何花落去,似曾相识燕归来.

How to use it

Predicate, adverbial or attributive; neutral with a tone of resignation. Often 无可奈何地摇头 or 感到无可奈何.

Example sentences

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  1. 航班取消了，乘客们无可奈何，只好在机场过夜。
    Hángbān qǔxiāo le, chéngkèmen wú kě nài hé, zhǐhǎo zài jīchǎng guòyè.
    The flight was cancelled; the passengers had no choice but to spend the night at the airport.
    flight cancel (particle), passenger (plural) nothing can do what, have-to at airport pass night
  2. 他无可奈何地叹了口气，接受了这个结果。
    Tā wú kě nài hé de tàn le kǒu qì, jiēshòu le zhège jiéguǒ.
    He sighed helplessly and accepted the outcome.
    he nothing can do what (adverbial particle) sigh (aspect particle) mouth breath, accept (aspect particle) this (measure) result

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