At a Loss for Words: Top 6 “Aargghh” Words
Perplexing language mistakes. Bewildering cultural chasms. Head scratching conundrums. Learning Chinese, it can often feel as if you are simply jumping from mortifying moment to puzzling predicament.
As dedicated language learners, we all know the feeling of simply being at a loss for words.
Great news! You may be at a loss of words, but there is no shortage of ways in Chinese describing your mental state.
Today, lets look at 6 words in Chinese to describe moments when you are at a loss for any.
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
6. 结巴 (jiē ba)- Stammer, not able to get words out coherently
“他一生气说话就开始结巴”
tā yī shēng qì shuō huà jiù kāi shǐ jiē ba
He starts stammering when he gets angry
5. 咋舌 (zé shé)- Left speechless or breathless
“奥运冠军巨额奖励令人咋舌”
ào yùn guàn jūn jù é jiǎng lì lìng rén zé shé
The huge sums awarded to Olympians leave people speechless
4. 无奈 (wú nài)- Helplessly frustrated
“他这样说道,然后停顿了一下,无奈地叹了一口气”
tā zhè yàng shuō dao, rán hòu tíng dùn le yī xià, wú nài de tàn le yī kǒu qì
After he said this, he paused and let out a helpless sigh
3. 无言以对 (wú yán yǐ duì)- Speechless, at a loss for words
“山寨厂商事先将iPhone 5的外观设计在苹果发布会以前就申请成专利，这实在让人无言以对”
shān zhài chǎng shāng shì xiān jiāng iPhone 5 de wài guān shè jì zài píng guǒ fā bù huì yǐ qián jiù shēn qǐng chéng zhuān lì, zhè shí zài ràng rén wú yán yǐ duì
“Shanzhai” factories applied for a patent on the iPhone 5 design even before Apple’s announcement, really leaving people at a loss for words
2. 无语 (wú yǔ)- No words, nothing to say
“那些让人无语的“惊悚”纹身”
nà xiē ràng rén wú yǔ de “jīng sǒng” wén shēn
Tattoos which leave people speechless in horror
And the best way to express your futile frustration?
1. 没办法 (méi bàn fǎ)- What can you do?!? Oh well!
“我的儿子是个捣蛋鬼，我真拿他没办法”
wǒ de ér zi shì gè dǎo dàn guǐ, wǒ zhēn ná tā méi bàn fǎ
My son is such a trouble maker, what can I do with him!?!
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
