不得已 bùdéyǐ to act against one's will
to act against one's will; to have no alternative but to; to have to; to have no choice; must
How to remember 不得已: 不 not + 得 get + 已 already = to act against one's will.
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How it is used
- 'To have no choice; against one's will' - 万不得已 (wàn bùdéyǐ) as an absolute last resort, 不得已而为之 (bùdéyǐ ér wéi zhī) do it only because there's no alternative.
- Signals a reluctant, forced action.