无法

• Pinyin: wú fǎ
• Hanzi breakdown: 无 = simplified 無 (nothing, without); 法 = 氵(water) + 去 (go), originally related to fairness in judgment

Meaning

Unable to; cannot; no way to; impossible to.

A common compound meaning 'there is no method/way to do something.' Used before a verb to express inability or impossibility. More emphatic than 不能, often implying that there is truly no means available. Used in both spoken and written Chinese.

Examples

1. 由于大雪，飞机无法正常起飞。 Due to heavy snow, the plane was unable to take off normally.
2. 这件事他一个人无法完成，需要大家配合。 He cannot complete this task on his own — everyone needs to cooperate.
3. 面对这样的美景，她无法用语言来形容。 Faced with such beautiful scenery, she had no words to describe it.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, formal, problems

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我无法接受这个决定。(I am unable to accept this decision.)
• 由于时间关系，我无法详细解释。(Due to time constraints, I am unable to explain in detail.)

Don't Say

• 我无法不喜欢你。(Double negatives with 无法 can be ambiguous — rephrase as 我忍不住喜欢你 for clearer expression.)

Origin & History

Compound of 无 (without, lacking) and 法 (method, way), literally 'without a method' — there is no way to do it.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal