束手无策 shùshǒu-wúcè literally to have one's hands bound and be unable to do anything about it
literally to have one's hands bound and be unable to do anything about it (idiom); figuratively helpless in the face of a crisis
How to remember 束手无策: 束 bundle + 手 hand + 无 have not + 策 to urge = literally to have one's hands bound and be unable to do anything about it.
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How it is used
- Idiom 'hands tied, at a loss what to do' - 面对疫情束手无策 (miànduì yìqíng shùshǒu wúcè) helpless in the face of the epidemic.
- 策 = plan/strategy; describes total helplessness before a crisis, no idea how to respond.
- Written; conveys stronger helplessness than 没办法 (méi bànfǎ, no way to do it).