willing but unable to help; beyond one's power
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
willing but unable to help; sympathetic but powerless
formalUsed to express sincere regret when one cannot assist someone in need. Often implies a genuine desire to help but an inability due to circumstances or lack of authority.
Kàn看
dào到
tā他
xiàn陷
rù入
kùn困
jìng境
，
wǒ我
yě也
ài爱
mò莫
néng能
zhù助
，
yīn因
wèi为
zhè这
shì是
gōng公
sī司
guī规
dìng定
。
Seeing him in trouble, I was also willing but unable to help, because it was company policy.
Duì对
yú于
nǐ你
yù遇
dào到
de的
zhè这
gè个
jì技
shù术
nán难
tí题
，
wǒ我
shēn深
gǎn感
bào抱
qiàn歉
，
kǒng恐
pà怕
ài爱
mò莫
néng能
zhù助
。
Regarding this technical difficulty you've encountered, I deeply apologize; I'm afraid I'm powerless to help.
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Tā他
de的
qiān签
zhèng证
wèn问
tí题
fēi非
cháng常
fù复
zá杂
，
lián连
dà大
shǐ使
guǎn馆
yě也
biǎo表
shì示
ài爱
mò莫
néng能
zhù助
。
His visa issue is extremely complicated; even the embassy expressed that they were unable to help.
Wǒ我
zhī知
dào道
nǐ你
hěn很
xū需
yào要
zhè这
bǐ笔
qián钱
，
dàn但
wǒ我
zì自
jǐ己
shǒu手
tóu头
yě也
hěn很
jǐn紧
，
shí实
zài在
shì是
ài爱
mò莫
néng能
zhù助
。
I know you really need this money, but I'm financially tight myself; I truly cannot help.