Word

无奈 (wú nài) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 5

Meaning of 无奈

连 lián conjunction

helpless; having no choice; but, however, unfortunately (conjunction)

我很想帮你，无奈我现在没有时间。

wǒ hěn xiǎng bāng nǐ wú nài wǒ xiàn zài méi yǒu shí jiān

I really want to help you, but unfortunately I don't have time right now.

Word breakdown

无 wú — without, not having - indicates negation or absence

1 无法 wú fǎ — unable to HSK 4
- 无 without, not have
- 法 method, way, means
Example

我无法理解他的想法。

wǒ wú fǎ lǐ jiě tā de xiǎng fǎ

I am unable to understand his thinking.
2 无聊 wú liáo — bored; boring HSK 4
- 无 without; not having
- 聊 chat; something to occupy oneself with
Example

这部电影太无聊了。

zhè bù diàn yǐng tài wú liáo le

This movie is too boring.
3 无论 wú lùn — no matter HSK 4
- 无 without, not having
- 论 to consider, to discuss
Example

无论发生什么，我都会支持你。

wú lùn fā shēng shén me wǒ dōu huì zhī chí nǐ

No matter what happens, I will support you.
4 无关 wú guān — have nothing to do with HSK 5
- 无 without, not have
- 关 relation, connection
Example

这件事与你无关。

zhè jiàn shì yǔ nǐ wú guān

This matter has nothing to do with you.
5 无效 wú xiào — to be invalid, to be ineffective HSK 5
- 无 without, not have
- 效 effect, efficacy
Example

这个合同已经无效了。

zhè ge hé tong yǐ jīng wú xiào le

This contract is already invalid.

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6 无数 wú shù — countless HSK 5
- 无 without, not have
- 数 number, count
Example

天空中有无数颗星星。

tiān kōng zhōng yǒu wú shù kē xīng xing

There are countless stars in the sky.
7 无限 wú xiàn — infinite HSK 5
- 无 without, no
- 限 limit, boundary
Example

宇宙是无限的。

yǔ zhǒu shì wú xiàn de

The universe is infinite.
8 无所谓 wú suǒ wèi — doesn't matter; don't care; indifferent HSK 6
- 无 not have; without; no
- 所 that which; what (nominalizing particle)
- 谓 to say; to call; meaning
Example

你想吃什么？我无所谓。

nǐ xiǎng chī shén me wǒ wú suǒ wèi

What do you want to eat? I don't care.
9 无疑 wú yí — undoubtedly HSK 6
- 无 without, no
- 疑 doubt
Example

他无疑是最好的候选人。

tā wú yí shì zuì hǎo de hòu xuǎn rén

He is undoubtedly the best candidate.
10 毫无 háo wú — not at all HSK 6
- 毫 not even the slightest bit
- 无 without/lacking
Example

我对此毫无兴趣。

wǒ duì cǐ háo wú xìng qù

I have no interest in this at all.
11 一事无成 yī shì wú chéng — accomplish nothing HSK 7
- 一 one, a single (emphasizes not even one thing)
- 事 matter, thing, affair
- 无 without, not have
- 成 accomplish, succeed, complete
Example

他整天玩游戏，一事无成。

tā zhěng tiān wán yóu xì yī shì wú chéng

He plays games all day and accomplishes nothing.
12 一无所有 yì wú suǒ yǒu — to have nothing at all HSK 7
- 一 one; even one (emphasizing totality)
- 无 not have; without
- 所 structural particle (forming 所有: possessions)
- 有 have; possess
Example

她离开家时一无所有，但现在很成功。

tā lí kāi jiā shí yì wú suǒ yǒu dàn xiàn zài hěn chéng gōng

When she left home she had nothing, but now she is very successful.
13 一无所知 yì wú suǒ zhī — know nothing at all HSK 7
- 一 one (in negative construction: not even one)
- 无 not have, without
- 所 that which, what (nominalizer)
- 知 to know, knowledge
Example

他对这件事一无所知。

tā duì zhè jiàn shì yì wú suǒ zhī

He knows nothing at all about this matter.
14 万无一失 wàn wú yī shī — foolproof, surefire, without the slightest risk of failure HSK 7
- 万 ten thousand, myriad (representing all possible cases)
- 无 without, not have (negation)
- 一 one, single (emphasizes not even one)
- 失 mistake, failure, loss (what is being avoided)
Example

这个计划万无一失，我们一定会成功。

zhè ge jì huà wàn wú yī shī wǒ men yī dìng huì chéng gōng

This plan is foolproof, we will definitely succeed.
15 前无古人 qián wú gǔ rén — unprecedented HSK 7
- 前 before, preceding (referring to the past)
- 无 without, not have (negation)
- 古 ancient, old (referring to people of antiquity)
- 人 people, person (those who came before)
Example

这项发明在科技史上前无古人。

zhè xiàng fā míng zài kē jì shǐ shàng qián wú gǔ rén

This invention is unprecedented in the history of science and technology.
16 史无前例 shǐ wú qián lì — unprecedented HSK 7
- 史 history (provides historical scope)
- 无 without/not have (negation)
- 前 previous/before (temporal reference)
- 例 example/precedent (the thing being referenced)
Example

这次疫情对全球经济造成了史无前例的影响。

zhè cì yì qíng duì quán qiú jīng jì zào chéng le shǐ wú qián lì de yǐng xiǎng

This pandemic caused an unprecedented impact on the global economy.
17 大公无私 dà gōng wú sī — selfless and impartial HSK 7
- 大 great, emphasizing completeness
- 公 public interest, impartial
- 无 without, lacking
- 私 private interest, selfish
Example

这位领导大公无私，深受群众爱戴。

zhè wèi lǐng dǎo dà gōng wú sī shēn shòu qún zhòng ài dài

This leader is selfless and impartial, and is deeply loved and respected by the people.
18 寥寥无几 liáo liáo wú jǐ — very few; few and far between HSK 7
- 寥 sparse, desolate; conveys emptiness and scarcity
- 寥 (repeated) intensifies the sense of sparseness
- 无 without, not have; negates the following element
- 几 how many, several; used rhetorically to mean 'not even a few'
Example

这种珍稀动物现在寥寥无几。

zhè zhǒng zhēn xī dòng wù xiàn zài liáo liáo wú jǐ

This rare animal is now very few in number.
19 当之无愧 dāng zhī wú kuì — fully deserve; well-deserved HSK 7
- 当 to bear, to face (something deserved)
- 之 it (referring to the honor or recognition)
- 无 without, not have
- 愧 shame, guilt, ashamed
Example

她获得这个奖项当之无愧。

tā huò dé zhè ge jiǎng xiàng dāng zhī wú kuì

She fully deserves this award.
20 无不 wú bù — all, without exception HSK 7
- 无 without, not have (first negation)
- 不 not (second negation, creating double negative = all)
Example

他的学生无不敬佩他。

tā de xué sheng wú bù jìng pèi tā

All his students admire him without exception.
21 无从 wú cóng — have no way to HSK 7
- 无 without, lack of
- 从 from where, source
Example

这件事情太复杂了，我无从下手。

zhè jiàn shì qing tài fù zá le wǒ wú cóng xià shǒu

This matter is too complex, I have no way to start.
22 无价之宝 wú jià zhī bǎo — priceless treasure HSK 7
- 无 without, no
- 价 price, value
- 之 possessive/attributive particle
- 宝 treasure
Example

健康是人生中的无价之宝。

jiàn kāng shì rén shēng zhōng de wú jià zhī bǎo

Health is a priceless treasure in life.
23 无偿 wú cháng — free of charge HSK 7
- 无 without, no
- 偿 compensation, payment
Example

律师提供了无偿法律咨询。

lǜ shī tí gōng le wú cháng fǎ lǜ zī xún

The lawyer provided free legal consultation.
24 无关紧要 wú guān jǐn yào — unimportant, insignificant HSK 7
- 无 without, not having
- 关 relation, connection
- 紧 urgent, important
- 要 important, essential
Example

这些细节无关紧要，我们应该关注重点。

zhè xiē xì jié wú guān jǐn yào wǒ men yīng gāi guān zhù zhòng diǎn

These details are unimportant, we should focus on the main points.
25 无力 wú lì — powerless, weak, unable HSK 7
- 无 without, not having
- 力 strength, power, ability
Example

他感到无力改变现状。

tā gǎn dào wú lì gǎi biàn xiàn zhuàng

He feels powerless to change the current situation.
26 无动于衷 wú dòng yú zhōng — remain indifferent HSK 7
- 无 no, without
- 动 move, be emotionally moved
- 于 in, at (grammatical particle)
- 衷 heart, innermost feelings
Example

面对别人的求助，他总是无动于衷。

miàn duì bié rén de qiú zhù tā zǒng shì wú dòng yú zhōng

Facing others' requests for help, he always remains indifferent.
27 无可厚非 wú kě hòu fēi — beyond reproach HSK 7
- 无 without, no (negates the following)
- 可 can, may (expresses possibility)
- 厚 thick, severe (harsh criticism)
- 非 blame, criticize (find fault)
Example

在那种情况下，她的选择无可厚非。

zài nà zhǒng qíng kuàng xià tā de xuǎn zé wú kě hòu fēi

In that situation, her choice was beyond reproach.
28 无可奈何 wú kě nài hé — helpless HSK 7
- 无 without, not having
- 可 can, possible
- 奈 how, what (classical particle)
- 何 what, how (forms '奈何' meaning 'what to do about it')
Example

面对这种情况，我们也无可奈何。

miàn duì zhè zhǒng qíng kuàng wǒ men yě wú kě nài hé

Facing this situation, we are also helpless.
29 无家可归 wú jiā kě guī — homeless HSK 7
- 无 without, no
- 家 home, family
- 可 can, able to
- 归 return, go back
Example

战争使许多人无家可归。

zhàn zhēng shǐ xǔ duō rén wú jiā kě guī

War made many people homeless.
30 无形 wú xíng — intangible HSK 7
- 无 without, lacking
- 形 form, shape
Example

这种无形的资产很难估价。

zhè zhǒng wú xíng de zī chǎn hěn nán gū jià

This kind of intangible asset is difficult to value.
31 无微不至 wú wēi bù zhì — extremely attentive and considerate; meticulous in every detail HSK 7
- 无 no, without; negates the phrase that follows
- 微 tiny, minute; refers to the smallest details
- 不 not; negative particle
- 至 reach, arrive at; indicates that attention extends to all details
Example

母亲对孩子的照顾总是无微不至。

mǔ qīn duì hái zi de zhào gu zǒng shì wú wēi bù zhì

A mother's care for her children is always meticulous in every detail.
32 无忧无虑 wú yōu wú lǜ — carefree HSK 7
- 无 without, no
- 忧 worry, anxiety
- 无 without, no
- 虑 concern, thought
Example

孩子们在公园里无忧无虑地玩耍。

hái zi men zài gōng yuán lǐ wú yōu wú lǜ de wán shuǎ

The children play carefree in the park.
33 无情 wú qíng — ruthless HSK 7
- 无 without, lacking
- 情 emotion, feeling, affection
Example

时间是无情的，它不会为任何人停留。

shí jiān shì wú qíng de tā bù huì wèi rèn hé rén tíng liú

Time is ruthless, it won't stop for anyone.
34 无意 wú yì — unintentionally HSK 7
- 无 without, not have
- 意 intention, meaning
Example

我无意中听到了他们的谈话。

wǒ wú yì zhōng tīng dào le tā men de tán huà

I unintentionally overheard their conversation.
35 无所事事 wú suǒ shì shì — to have nothing to do; to be idle HSK 7
- 无 without; not have
- 所 thing; forms 'nothing' when combined with 无
- 事 affair; matter; thing to do
- 事 affair; matter (repeated for emphasis)
Example

他整天无所事事，什么都不想做。

tā zhěng tiān wú suǒ shì shì shén me dōu bù xiǎng zuò

He has nothing to do all day and doesn't want to do anything.
36 无所作为 wú suǒ zuò wéi — do nothing; accomplish nothing; be inactive HSK 7
- 无 without; not have
- 所 that which (nominalizer)
- 作 do; make
- 为 act; be; action
Example

面对困难，我们不能无所作为。

miàn duì kùn nan wǒ men bù néng wú suǒ zuò wéi

Facing difficulties, we cannot do nothing.
37 无故 wú gù — without reason HSK 7
- 无 without, not have
- 故 reason, cause
Example

公司不能无故解雇员工。

gōng sī bù néng wú gù jiě gù yuán gōng

The company cannot dismiss employees without reason.
38 无敌 wú dí — invincible HSK 7
- 无 without, not have
- 敌 enemy, opponent, rival
Example

他在这个领域无敌。

tā zài zhè ge lǐng yù wú dí

He is invincible in this field.
39 无条件 wú tiáo jiàn — unconditional HSK 7
- 无 without, no
- 条 clause, item
- 件 matter, condition
Example

父母对孩子的爱是无条件的。

fù mǔ duì hái zi de ài shì wú tiáo jiàn de

A parent's love for their child is unconditional.
40 无比 wú bǐ — incomparable; matchless; extremely HSK 7
- 无 without; no; not
- 比 compare; comparison
Example

他对祖国有无比的热爱。

tā duì zǔ guó yǒu wú bǐ de rè ài

He has incomparable love for his motherland.
41 无济于事 wú jì yú shì — to no avail; of no help; useless HSK 7
- 无 without; no (negation)
- 济 help; benefit; aid
- 于 to; for; with regard to
- 事 matter; affair; situation
Example

现在后悔也无济于事了。

xiàn zài hòu huǐ yě wú jì yú shì le

Regretting it now is of no help.
42 无理 wú lǐ — unreasonable HSK 7
- 无 without, lacking
- 理 reason, logic, principle
Example

你的要求太无理了。

nǐ de yāo qiú tài wú lǐ le

Your demand is too unreasonable.
43 无知 wú zhī — ignorant HSK 7
- 无 without, lacking
- 知 knowledge, awareness
Example

无知的人常常自以为是。

wú zhī de rén cháng cháng zì yǐ wéi shì

Ignorant people often think they are always right.
44 无私 wú sī — selfless HSK 7
- 无 without, lacking
- 私 selfishness, self-interest
Example

母爱是无私的

mǔ ài shì wú sī de

A mother's love is selfless
45 无穷 wú qióng — infinite HSK 7
- 无 without, not having
- 穷 end, limit
Example

她对孩子的爱是无穷的。

tā duì hái zi de ài shì wú qióng de

Her love for her children is infinite.
46 无精打采 wú jīng dǎ cǎi — listless; dispirited HSK 7
- 无 without; lacking
- 精 spirit; vitality; energy
- 打 rouse; stir up (in this idiom)
- 采 spirits; vigor; lively manner
Example

生病后，孩子显得无精打采。

shēng bìng hòu hái zi xiǎn de wú jīng dǎ cǎi

After getting sick, the child appeared listless.
47 无线 wú xiàn — wireless HSK 7
- 无 without, lacking, no
- 线 wire, line, cable
Example

现在很多人使用无线耳机。

xiàn zài hěn duō rén shǐ yòng wú xiàn ěr jī

Many people now use wireless headphones.
48 无缘 wú yuán — to have no affinity with, to not be destined for HSK 7
- 无 without; not having
- 缘 fate; predestined connection
Example

她和大学无缘，只好去工作了。

tā hé dà xué wú yuán zhǐ hǎo qù gōng zuò le

She had no chance for university, so she had to go work.
49 无耻 wú chǐ — shameless HSK 7
- 无 without, lacking
- 耻 shame, sense of shame
Example

他的行为太无耻了。

tā de xíng wéi tài wú chǐ le

His behavior is too shameless.
50 无能 wú néng — incompetent HSK 7
- 无 without, no
- 能 ability, capability
Example

面对这个问题，我感到很无能。

miàn duì zhè ge wèn tí wǒ gǎn dào hěn wú néng

Facing this problem, I feel very incompetent.
51 无能为力 wú néng wéi lì — powerless HSK 7
- 无 without, lacking
- 能 ability, capability
- 为 to do, to act
- 力 strength, power
Example

面对自然灾害，我们常常感到无能为力。

miàn duì zì rán zāi hài wǒ men cháng cháng gǎn dào wú néng wéi lì

Facing natural disasters, we often feel powerless.
52 无论如何 wú lùn rú hé — no matter what, in any case, anyway HSK 7
- 无 without, not (negates following clause)
- 论 to discuss, to consider (forms 'no matter')
- 如 like, as, such as (introduces manner)
- 何 what, how (interrogative marker)
Example

无论如何，我都要完成这个任务。

wú lùn rú hé wǒ dōu yào wán chéng zhè ge rèn wu

No matter what, I must complete this task.
53 无话可说 wú huà kě shuō — have nothing to say HSK 7
- 无 not have, without
- 话 words, things to say
- 可 can, able to
- 说 say, speak
Example

面对这样的结果，我真的无话可说。

miàn duì zhè yàng de jié guǒ wǒ zhēn de wú huà kě shuō

Faced with such results, I really have nothing to say.
54 无赖 wú lài — rascally, roguish, scoundrelly HSK 7
- 无 without, lacking
- 赖 shame, moral restraint; shameless behavior
Example

这种无赖的做法让人反感。

zhè zhǒng wú lài de zuò fǎ ràng rén fǎn gǎn

This kind of scoundrelly practice is disgusting.
55 无辜 wú gū — innocent HSK 7
- 无 without, not having
- 辜 guilt, crime, blame
Example

孩子的眼神很无辜。

hái zi de yǎn shén hěn wú gū

The child's eyes look very innocent.
56 无边无际 wú biān wú jì — boundless, limitless HSK 7
- 无 without, no
- 边 edge, border
- 无 without, no
- 际 boundary, limit
Example

站在草原上，眼前是无边无际的绿色。

zhàn zài cǎo yuán shàng yǎn qián shì wú biān wú jì de lǜ sè

Standing on the grassland, before one's eyes is boundless green.
57 无非 wú fēi — nothing but, only, merely HSK 7
- 无 not have, without; provides the negative sense
- 非 not, non-; reinforces the limiting and negative aspect
Example

他无非是想帮助你。

tā wú fēi shì xiǎng bāng zhù nǐ

He merely wants to help you.
58 无须 wú xū — need not HSK 7
- 无 no, without, not have
- 须 need, must
Example

这件事无须担心。

zhè jiàn shì wú xū dān xīn

There is no need to worry about this matter.
59 杂乱无章 zá luàn wú zhāng — disorderly and chaotic; messy and disorganized HSK 7
- 杂 mixed, miscellaneous
- 乱 disorder, chaos
- 无 without, not have
- 章 order, pattern, organization
Example

他的房间杂乱无章，到处都是衣服和书。

tā de fáng jiān zá luàn wú zhāng dào chù dōu shì yī fu hé shū

His room is messy and disorganized, with clothes and books everywhere.
60 束手无策 shù shǒu wú cè — at a loss HSK 7
- 束 to bind, to tie (represents restraint)
- 手 hand (represents ability to act)
- 无 without, have no (negation)
- 策 strategy, plan (represents solution)
Example

面对这个难题，他束手无策。

miàn duì zhè ge nán tí tā shù shǒu wú cè

Facing this difficult problem, he was at a loss.
61 独一无二 dú yī wú èr — unique HSK 7
- 独 alone, sole
- 一 one
- 无 without, no
- 二 two, second
Example

每个人都是独一无二的。

měi gè rén dōu shì dú yī wú èr de

Every person is unique.
62 目中无人 mù zhōng wú rén — supercilious; arrogant and contemptuous; to regard nobody as one's equal HSK 7
- 目 eye; represents one's view or perception
- 中 in; middle; indicates location (in the eyes)
- 无 without; no; negation indicating absence
- 人 person; people; refers to others
Example

他态度目中无人，得罪了很多同事。

tā tài dù mù zhōng wú rén dé zuì le hěn duō tóng shì

His arrogant attitude offended many colleagues.
63 肆无忌惮 sì wú jì dàn — unbridled; unscrupulous; without restraint HSK 7
- 肆 wantonly; unbridled; to indulge without restraint
- 无 without; not have
- 忌 to fear; to scruple; to avoid
- 惮 to dread; to fear; to be in awe
Example

这些人肆无忌惮地破坏环境。

zhè xiē rén sì wú jì dàn de pò huài huán jìng

These people destroy the environment without any scruples.
64 走投无路 zǒu tóu wú lù — to be driven to desperation; to have no way out HSK 7
- 走 to walk; to move (seeking a way out)
- 投 to throw oneself; to seek (refuge or help)
- 无 without; no (negation)
- 路 road; way (option or means)
Example

他欠了很多债，走投无路，只好向朋友求助。

tā qiàn le hěn duō zhài zǒu tóu wú lù zhǐ hǎo xiàng péng you qiú zhù

He owed a lot of debt and, driven to desperation, had no choice but to ask friends for help.
65 风雨无阻 fēng yǔ wú zǔ — come rain or shine HSK 7
- 风 wind (representing weather challenges)
- 雨 rain (representing weather challenges)
- 无 without, not having
- 阻 obstruction, hindrance
Example

邮递员风雨无阻地送信。

yóu dì yuán fēng yǔ wú zǔ de sòng xìn

The postman delivers mail come rain or shine.
66 鸦雀无声 yā què wú shēng — dead silent; pin-drop silence HSK 7
- 鸦 crow (represents noisy birds)
- 雀 sparrow (represents common birds)
- 无 without; no (negation)
- 声 sound; voice (what is absent)
Example

老师走进教室，教室里顿时鸦雀无声。

lǎo shī zǒu jìn jiào shì jiào shì lǐ dùn shí yā què wú shēng

When the teacher walked into the classroom, it immediately became dead silent.
67 默默无闻 mò mò wú wén — obscure and unknown HSK 7
- 默 silent, quiet
- 默 silent, quiet (repetition for emphasis)
- 无 without, not have
- 闻 heard of, known, fame
Example

这位科学家默默无闻地为社会做出了巨大贡献。

zhè wèi kē xué jiā mò mò wú wén de wèi shè huì zuò chū le jù dà gòng xiàn

This scientist made great contributions to society while remaining obscure and unknown.