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无可奈何

wú kě nài hédictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
have no way out / have no alternative / abbr. to 無奈|无奈[wú nài]
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-33801c3ec50c0d89. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

無可奈何 无可奈何 [wu2 ke3 nai4 he2] /have no way out/have no alternative/abbr. to 無奈|无奈[wu2 nai4]/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

Other forms in these source records: 無可奈何

  • 无
    mó

    used in 南無|南无[nā mó]

    wú

    not to have / no / none / not / to lack / un- / -less

  • 可
    kě

    (prefix) can / may / able to / -able / to approve / to permit / to suit / (particle used for emphasis) certainly / very / but / however

    kè

    used in 可汗[kè hán]

  • 奈
    nài

    used in expressions that convey frustration and futility, such as 無奈|无奈[wú nài] and 莫可奈何|莫可奈何[mò kě nài hé] (literary) / used for its phonetic value in writing foreign words

  • 何
    hé

    what / how / why / which / carry

    Hé

    surname He

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.