无奈 wúnài to have no alternative
to have no alternative; frustrated; exasperated; helpless; (conjunction) but unfortunately
How to remember 无奈: 无 have not + 奈 but = to have no alternative.
Characters
How it is used
- Describes helplessness - having no choice but to accept something - 我很无奈 (wǒ hěn wúnài) I feel helpless / there's nothing I can do.
- Also a connector meaning "but unfortunately": 他很想去，无奈没有时间 (tā hěn xiǎng qù, wúnài méiyǒu shíjiān) he really wanted to go, but sadly had no time.
- The set phrase 无可奈何 (wúkě nàihé) is the fuller, more literary version of the same feeling.