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无法 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
无法wúfǎunableHSK 4, unknown, 12 strokes, rank #417, Medium
无法wúfǎincapableHSK 4, unknown, 12 strokes, rank #417, Medium
wúfǎ(wu2fa3)wu fa T2
  1. 1unable
  2. 2incapable
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March 24, 2026

无法(無法)wúfǎ(wu2fa3)

无法 (wú fǎ) means 'unable' or 'incapable,' indicating a lack of ability or means to do something. It is commonly used in contexts where someone cannot perform an action due to circumstances, limitations, or obstacles.

Strokes12Frequency#417DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

The concept of being 'unable' resonates with the Chinese cultural emphasis on perseverance and overcoming difficulties. In many Chinese proverbs, the idea of striving against the odds is celebrated, making '无法' a significant term in discussions about challenges.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person trying to climb a tall wall but finding it impossible. The character 无 (wú) looks like a person with arms raised in surrender, symbolizing inability, while 法 (fǎ) can be remembered as 'method' or 'way.' Together, they convey the idea of having no method or way to accomplish something.

Meanings of 无法

wúfǎ(wu2fa3)
1unable
2incapable
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 无法

无法Simplified
無法Traditional
12Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1

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AI Study Notes for 无法

Quick Contrast

无法 (wúfǎ) vs 不能 (bùnéng) — use 无法 for situations where there are external limitations preventing action, while 不能 indicates a personal inability or prohibition.

Usage Notes

Ensure to use 无法 in contexts where inability is emphasized, rather than simply saying 'no' (不). It is often used in written language and formal speech. Common collocations include '无法解决' (unable to resolve) and '无法接受' (unable to accept).

HSK Study Tips

虽然这一词汇不在HSK词汇表中,但与HSK 3和4的词汇(如能, 不能)紧密相关。学生可以通过对比这些词汇,理解'能'和'无法'的区别,重点关注如何在不同句型中使用它。

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 无法 with 不可以, thinking they are interchangeable, but they are not. For example, saying '我无法去' (I am unable to go) instead of '我不可以去' (I cannot go) is correct, but using them incorrectly can lead to confusion.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 无法

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Component Characters

无wú-less
HSK 44 strokes无
View full entry
法fǎlaw
HSK 48 strokes氵
View full entry

How to say unable in Chinese

“unable” in Chinese is无法wúfǎ

无法 (wú fǎ) means 'unable' or 'incapable,' indicating a lack of ability or means to do something. It is commonly used in contexts where someone cannot perform an action due to circumstances, limitations, or obstacles.

When to use 无法

Ensure to use 无法 in contexts where inability is emphasized, rather than simply saying 'no' (不). It is often used in written language and formal speech. Common collocations include '无法解决' (unable to resolve) and '无法接受' (unable to accept).

无法 or something close to it

无法 (wúfǎ) vs 不能 (bùnéng) — use 无法 for situations where there are external limitations preventing action, while 不能 indicates a personal inability or prohibition.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 无法 with 不可以, thinking they are interchangeable, but they are not. For example, saying '我无法去' (I am unable to go) instead of '我不可以去' (I cannot go) is correct, but using them incorrectly can lead to confusion.

Write 无法

无
法

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Frequently Asked Questions about 无法

Yes, but it is more commonly used in formal contexts or writing.

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