as a last resort; have no choice
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
as a last resort; when there is no other choice; out of absolute necessity
formalUsed to emphasize that one has exhausted all other options and is forced to take an undesirable action. Often appears in formal or literary contexts.
Wàn万
bù不
dé得
yǐ已
，
cái才
chū出
cǐ此
xià下
cè策
。
Only as a last resort did he resort to this bad move.
Bú不
dào到
wàn万
bù不
dé得
yǐ已
，
wǒ我
bú不
huì会
fàng放
qì弃
zhè这
gè个
jī机
huì会
。
I won't give up this opportunity unless I absolutely have to.
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Zhè这
shì是
wàn万
bù不
dé得
yǐ已
de的
bàn办
fǎ法
，
wǒ我
men们
yě也
bù不
xiǎng想
yòng用
。
This is a last-resort solution, and we don't want to use it either.
Wàn万
bù不
dé得
yǐ已
de的
shí时
hou候
，
wǒ我
men们
huì会
xuǎn选
zé择
chè撤
tuì退
。
When there is no other choice, we will choose to retreat.