# 爱莫能助

ài mò néng zhù

Want to help but be unable to

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Care, yet be powerless to assist

**Traditional Chinese:** 愛莫能助

**Register:** Standard · expressive

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Express sympathy alongside practical inability.

May sound dismissive without an explanation.

## Understanding the expression

The expression separates goodwill from ability. Someone may sincerely care about another person’s difficulty yet lack the money, authority, knowledge, or time to resolve it. It is often a polite way to explain a real limit. Because the words can also become a convenient dismissal, a brief reason or an alternative suggestion makes the sympathy more credible. The phrase promises understanding, not a solution or a future obligation.

## Examples

我没有车，实在爱莫能助。

### Traditional Chinese

我沒有車，實在愛莫能助。

wǒ méi yǒu chē ， shí zài ài mò néng zhù 。

I have no car, so I really cannot help.

这超出她的权限，她爱莫能助。

### Traditional Chinese

這超出她的權限，她愛莫能助。

zhè chāo chū tā de quán xiàn ， tā ài mò néng zhù 。

This is beyond her authority, so she cannot help despite wanting to.

我很同情你，可惜爱莫能助。

### Traditional Chinese

我很同情你，可惜愛莫能助。

wǒ hěn tóng qíng nǐ ， kě xī ài mò néng zhù 。

I sympathize with you, but unfortunately I cannot help.

他身在国外，对维修爱莫能助。

### Traditional Chinese

他身在國外，對維修愛莫能助。

tā shēn zài guó wài ， duì wéi xiū ài mò néng zhù 。

Being abroad, he could not help with the repairs.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%84%9B%E8%8E%AB%E8%83%BD%E5%8A%A9)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=730&webMd=1&la=0)

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