不得已而為之

不得已而为之
bùdéyǐérwéizhī
  1. to have no other choice
  2. to be the last resort

CEDICT

Homographs

不得已而為之 bùdéyǐěrwéizhī

Entry Composition

1 不得已 bùdéyǐ
  1. to act against one's will
  2. to have no alternative but to
  3. to have to
  4. to have no choice
  5. must
2 而 ér
  1. and
  2. as well as
  3. and so
  4. but (not)
  5. yet (not)
  6. (indicates causal relation)
  7. (indicates change of state)
  8. (indicates contrast)
3 為 wéi
  1. as (in the capacity of)
  2. to take sth as
  3. to act as
  4. to serve as
  5. to behave as
  6. to become
  7. to be
  8. to do
  9. by (in the passive voice)
4 之 zhī
  1. (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的 de)
  2. him
  3. her
  4. it

Related entries

別無選擇 biéwúxuǎnzé to have no other choice
我们别无选择只能冒着危险。

We have no choice but to risk it.

Source: Tatoeba

只能 zhǐnéng
  1. can only
  2. obliged to do sth
  3. to have no other choice
他只能看着。

He could only watch.

Source: Tatoeba