at a loss; helpless; don't know what to do
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
at a loss; helpless; don't know what to do
Used when someone is in a difficult situation and has no idea how to solve it. Literally means 'hands tied, no strategy'.
Miàn面
duì对
zhè这
gè个
nán难
tí题
，
dà大
jiā家
dōu都
shù束
shǒu手
wú无
cè策
。
Facing this difficult problem, everyone was at a loss.
Diàn电
nǎo脑
tū突
rán然
sǐ死
jī机
le了
，
wǒ我
shù束
shǒu手
wú无
cè策
。
The computer suddenly crashed, and I didn't know what to do.
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Yóu由
yú于
quē缺
fá乏
zī资
jīn金
，
xiàng项
mù目
xiàn陷
rù入
le了
shù束
shǒu手
wú无
cè策
de的
jìng境
dì地
。
Due to lack of funds, the project fell into a helpless situation.
Tā他
duì对
hái孩
zi子
de的
pàn叛
nì逆
xíng行
wéi为
gǎn感
dào到
shù束
shǒu手
wú无
cè策
。
He felt helpless regarding his child's rebellious behavior.