shù束bindshǒu手handswú无withoutcè策plan
To be at one's wit's end; to be helpless.
Literal meaning
bind (束) — hands (手) — without (无) — plan (策)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase describing a state of helplessness.
Examples
Miàn面duì对zhè这ge个wèn问tí题，wǒ我shù束shǒu手wú无cè策。
Faced with this problem, I am at my wit's end.
Yī医shēng生duì对zhè这zhǒng种bìng病shù束shǒu手wú无cè策。
The doctors are helpless with this disease.
Usage & nuances
Describes a situation where one is unable to find a solution.
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