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无能为力

无能为力 wúnéngwéilì

无能为力 wúnéngwéilì Meaning

Learn the Pinyin Pronunciation and 3 English Translations of the word 无能为力 wúnéngwéilì .

Pīnyīn Pronunciation
wúnéngwéilì | wu2 neng2 wei2 li4
English translation
impotent (idiom)
powerless
helpless

Learn the Chinese word 无能为力 wúnéngwéilì in 7 easy steps:

About 无能为力 wúnéngwéilì

Read some general information about the Chinese word 无能为力 wúnéngwéilì .

Traditional form

無能為力

Part of speech

Idiomatic phrase / 习用语 Xí yòngyǔ
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Mandarin Temple

Come for Peace. Stay for Wisdom.

Etymology of 无能为力 wúnéngwéilì

Familiarize yourself with the origin and historical aspects of the Chinese word 无能为力 wúnéngwéilì .

Explanation

Originally a pictograph of a person () dancing with ornamental leather hides () hanging from his arms, conveying the meaning "dance". Later, two feet ( chuǎn ) were added to the bottom of the character to form (dance), and was borrowed for its sound to re

Positional decomposition

一尢

Number of Strokes

4

Néng

Type

pictographic

Explanation

Pictograph of a bear holding meat in its mouth. Based on the original meaning "bear". The meaning of this character has shifted over time and now means "ability; power".

Positional decomposition

⿰⿱厶⺼匕匕

Number of Strokes

10

wéi

Explanation

Simplified form of wèi . Pictograph of a hand guiding an elephant to do work (in ancient China elephants were tamed to do work). Based on the meaning "to work; to do".

Positional decomposition

diǎn 力丶

Number of Strokes

4

Type

ideographic

Explanation

Pictograph of a plow, representing strength

Positional decomposition

丿 piě

Number of Strokes

2

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Example sentences using 无能为力 wúnéngwéilì

Broaden your vocabulary by interacting with 5 audio-assisted sentences using the Chinese word 无能为力 wúnéngwéilì in different contexts.

最后 zuìhòu ,铁路 tiě lù shǎng de 工作人员 gōng zuò rén yuán yǒu de 耸肩 sǒng jiān 走开 zǒu kāi le , 有的 yǒu de 翻翻 yǎn , dōu 表示 biǎoshì 无能为力 wúnéngwéilì .

Finally the railway men shrugged , turned away, or rolled their eyes upward , all telegraphing surrender.

zài 千篇一律 qiān piān yī lǜ de 病房 bìng fáng 他们 tā men 感到恐惧 ér yòu 无能为力 wúnéngwéilì

They feel scared and powerless in conveyor-belt hospital wards.

可以 kěyǐ yòng 一张软盘 ruǎn pán lái 启动 qǐ dòng dàn 其他 qítā de jiù 无能为力 wúnéngwéilì le

I can boot up from a floppy disk, but that's all.

市政 shì zhèng huì 手中无权对此无能为力 wúnéngwéilì

The council was too weak to do anything about it.

帮不上什么 shénme máng ,我们 wǒmen Zhōng de 任何人 dōu 无能为力 wúnéngwéilì .

There was nothing you could do, nothing any of us could do.

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A Boy and his Dragon

Once upon a time, a Little Boy was living in a village near the woods. One day, a Dragon came out of the cave secluded in the middle of the forest and began to relentlessly follow the Little Boy, always breathing on the back of his neck, burning the young boy at his slightest misstep.

The child received refuge in an old Temple where there were no mirrors allowed, and it was forbidden to speak of life before entering the sanctum. Ancient books, hidden rooms with unimaginable treasures and beauty beyond comprehension, became part of the boy’s new life.

Time went by until, one day, the now old young boy accidentally glimpses his own reflection in a pond. The Dragon smiled back.

Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.

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