Usage note
无奈表示没有办法或感到无能为力。
Wúnài biǎoshì méiyǒu bànfǎ huò gǎndào wúnéng wéilì.
Helpless means having no way or feeling powerless.
Context note
当玩具坏了修不好时，小明感到很无奈。
Dāng wánjù huài le xiū bù hǎo shí, Xiǎo Míng gǎndào hěn wúnài.
When the toy broke and couldn't be fixed, Xiao Ming felt very helpless.
5 examples
下雨不能出去玩，我很无奈。
xià yǔ bù néng chū qù wán， wǒ hěn wú nài。
I can't go out to play because it's raining, I feel helpless.
小狗跑丢了，他无奈地哭了。
xiǎo gǒu pǎo diū le， tā wú nài dì kū le。
The puppy ran away, he cried helplessly.
作业太多，她无奈地叹了口气。
zuò yè tài duō， tā wú nài dì tàn le kǒu qì。
There was too much homework, she sighed helplessly.
妈妈无奈地摇摇头，因为孩子不听话。
mā ma wú nài dì yáo yáo tóu， yīn wèi hái zi bù tīng huà。
Mom shook her head helplessly because the child was disobedient.
他无奈地接受了这个结果。
tā wú nài dì jiē shòu le zhè ge jié guǒ。
He helplessly accepted this result.
5 mini stories
小丽想买一个冰淇淋，但钱不够。她无奈地走了。
xiǎo lì xiǎng mǎi yí gè bīng qí lín， dàn qián bú gòu。 tā wú nài dì zǒu le。
Xiao Li wanted to buy an ice cream, but she didn't have enough money. She left helplessly.
小明想和朋友们玩，但他们都忙。他无奈地自己看书。
xiǎo míng xiǎng hé péng yǒu men wán， dàn tā men dōu máng。 tā wú nài dì zì jǐ kàn shū。
Xiao Ming wanted to play with friends, but they were all busy. He helplessly read a book by himself.
小红不小心打碎了杯子。她无奈地告诉妈妈。
xiǎo hóng bù xiǎo xīn dǎ suì le bēi zi。 tā wú nài dì gào sù mā ma。
Xiao Hong accidentally broke a cup. She helplessly told her mom.
小华想画一幅画，但找不到画笔。他无奈地放弃了。
xiǎo huá xiǎng huà yì fú huà， dàn zhǎo bú dào huà bǐ。 tā wú nài dì fàng qì le。
Xiao Hua wanted to draw a picture, but couldn't find the paintbrush. He helplessly gave up.
小刚的自行车坏了，他无奈地推着走回家。
xiǎo gāng de zì xíng chē huài le， tā wú nài dì tuī zhe zǒu huí jiā。
Xiao Gang's bike broke down, he helplessly pushed it home.
Mini dialogue
无奈的事
A
下雨了，不能去公园，真无奈。
Xià yǔ le, bù néng qù gōngyuán, zhēn wúnài.
It's raining, we can't go to the park, so helpless.
B
是啊，我们只能在家玩了。
Shì a, wǒmen zhǐ néng zài jiā wán le.
Yes, we can only play at home.
无奈的选择
A
作业太多了，我无奈地叹了口气。
Zuòyè tài duō le, wǒ wúnài de tàn le kǒu qì.
There's too much homework, I sighed helplessly.
B
别无奈了，我帮你一起做。
Bié wúnài le, wǒ bāng nǐ yīqǐ zuò.
Don't be helpless, I'll help you do it together.
Related words and contrasts
similar
无助
wúzhù
helpless
feeling no one can help
related
失望
shīwàng
disappointed
feeling sad when things don't go as hoped
contrast
接受
jiēshòu
accept
to accept a situation instead of feeling helpless