无力回天

無力回天

wúlìhuítiān

idiom #31,187

Meanings

1 powerless to turn the tide
2 unable to reverse a hopeless situation
3 beyond saving

Characters

to turn back, reverse

Examples

球队最后五分钟落后太多，已经无力回天。

Qiúduì zuìhòu wǔ fēnzhōng luòhòu tài duō, yǐjīng wúlìhuítiān.

The team was too far behind in the final five minutes — there was no way to turn things around.

病情恶化得太快，医生也无力回天。

Bìngqíng èhuà de tài kuài, yīshēng yě wúlìhuítiān.

The condition deteriorated too quickly — even the doctors couldn't save him.

Tips

history

Literally "no strength to turn back the heavens." 回天 ("to reverse the heavens") is itself a classical phrase for accomplishing the seemingly impossible — the original 回天之力 ("strength to reverse heaven") referred to a remonstrating minister whose advice could change the emperor's mind. 无力回天 is the negative version: even that legendary strength wouldn't suffice.

Stroke Order

无 wú

力 lì

回 huí

天 tiān