DICTIONARY · CC-CEDICT
愛莫能助
简 爱莫能助 · 繁 愛莫能助Mandarin · pinyin ài mò néng zhù
Meanings
- unable to help however much one would like to (idiom); Although we sympathize, there is no way to help you.
- My hands are tied.
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Mandarin tones
4–4–2–4 · ai4 mo4 neng2 zhu4
Compare attested words with these syllables ↗Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.
Connected dictionary
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Counts describe dictionary records, not word frequency or semantic similarity. Source identities stay separate.Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense · 1 Cantonese reading
Rime Cantonese 粵拼
oi3 mok6 nang4 zo6
Cantonese word readings for 愛莫能助. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.
CanCLID contributors · CC BY 4.0 · source & license · Data pack
oi3 mok6 nang4 zo6
Pleco · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Word reading; meanings not aligned.
Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section
Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.
phrase
- (idiomatic) unable to help, despite wanting to
Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source & license · Data pack