学华语Learn Chinese with BaoOpen the course

迫不得已

pò bù dé yǐ

having no other choice

Character by character

迫pò
forced
不bù
not
得dé
can
已yǐ
stop

Example

如果不是迫不得已,我也不会找你帮忙。
I wouldn't ask you for help if I had any other choice.

Tone: neutral.

Usage and origin

Apology frame: 我也是迫不得已. 得 is dé.

Learn it in context
This idiom and thousands more are in Learn Chinese with Bao, with audio, pinyin and drills that make them stick.
Start the course free →

More idioms