万般无奈

萬般無奈
wànbānwúnài
idiom #98,864

Meanings

  1. 1 to have absolutely no alternative
  2. 2 utterly helpless
  3. 3 with no other recourse

Examples

Wànbānwúnài zhī xià, tā zhǐhǎo xiàng péngyǒu jiè qián.
With absolutely no other option, he had to borrow money from a friend.
Miànduì jiā lǐ de biàngù, tā wànbānwúnài, zhǐ néng cíqù gōngzuò.
Facing the upheaval at home, she had no choice but to quit her job.

Tips

usage
Almost always followed by 之下 or 之中 plus a forced action: 万般无奈之下只好…("having no other choice, [I] had to…"). Stronger and more emotional than the plain 没办法.

Stroke Order

wàn
bān
nài