Korean Idioms & Expressions

속수무책

soksumuchaek

Literal meaning

束(bind) + 手(hand) + 無(no) + 策(plan): 'hands bound, no plan'

Utterly helpless; there is nothing one can do. Used when a situation has gotten beyond your control and no measure is left.

Korean	English
불길이 순식간에 번져 우리는 속수무책으로 바라볼 수밖에 없었다. bulgiri sunsiganae beonjyeo urineun soksumuchaegeuro barabol subakke eopseotda.	The fire spread in an instant, and all we could do was watch, utterly helpless.

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