what to do; helpless; how
Meanings
3 senses · 9 examplesverb
to have no way; to be helpless; to have no alternative
Often used in set phrases like 无可奈何 (utterly helpless) or 奈何不得 (unable to do anything about).
I was truly helpless and could only accept this outcome.
He is extremely stubborn; nobody can do anything about him.
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Things have come to this point—what can be done?
pronoun
how; what; why (used in rhetorical questions)
literaryClassical/literary usage. Often appears in rhetorical questions to challenge the feasibility or logic of an action.
If the people do not fear death, how can you use death to frighten them?
This is the will of Heaven—how can one go against it?
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Born in the wrong era—what can one do?
verb
to deal with; to handle (in the pattern 奈...何, meaning "what can one do about...")
neutralUsed in the separable structure "奈 + pronoun/noun + 何", meaning "what can one do about someone/something" or "unable to deal with".
No matter what you say, he simply won't agree—what can you do about him!
The enemy is so powerful—what can we do about them?
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This child is so naughty that even the teacher can't handle him.