爱莫能助

爱莫能助 [ài mò néng zhù]

1. ■ willing to help but unable to do so; be glad to， but powerless to render assistance; be sympathetic but have no ability [unable] to help; be unable to help sb. even for the sake of love; desirous but unable to help; feel sorry that one is not in a position to give help; I can do nothing.; It is beyond one's ability to render assistance although one would like to.; love but have no ability to render assistance; not be able to help even if one would like to; One would be glad to help but cannot.; The spirit is willing but the body weak.; （We） will not be able to help （sb.） even if we would like to:

这件事我们是爱莫能助了。 We are willing to help but unable to do so about this.