回天无力 It's too late to do anything
Explanation
比喻局势或病情严重，已无法挽救。
It is used to describe a situation or illness that is so serious that it cannot be saved.
Origin Story
话说唐朝时期，有一位名叫李白的著名诗人，他一生豪放不羁，行侠仗义，为百姓做了许多好事。然而，他晚年却遭到了奸臣的陷害，被贬官流放，身心俱疲。 李白被贬到一个偏远的小山村，居住在一间简陋的茅屋里，每日以泪洗面，感叹自己命运多舛。一日，他正坐在茅屋前，看着夕阳西下，心中充满了悲凉。这时，一位老农走过来，对李白说：“诗仙，您为何如此悲伤？莫非有什么心事？” 李白便将自己被奸臣陷害，流放贬官的事，一五一十地告诉了老农。老农听后，叹了口气，对李白说：“诗仙，您虽然才华横溢，但是如今大势已去，回天无力了。您还是保重身体，静待时机吧！” 李白听了老农的话，心中虽然痛苦，但也渐渐地接受了现实。他开始潜心读书，写诗作画，以寄托自己的情怀。直到有一天，朝廷发生巨变，奸臣被罢免，李白才得以平反昭雪，重新回到了朝廷。
During the Tang Dynasty, there was a famous poet named Li Bai, known for his unrestrained personality and his acts of chivalry and righteousness. In his later years, however, he was framed by treacherous ministers and exiled, leaving him physically and mentally exhausted. Li Bai was banished to a remote mountain village where he lived in a simple hut, lamenting his difficult fate. One day, as he sat before his hut watching the sun set, he was filled with sadness. An old farmer approached him and said, “Poet, why are you so sorrowful? Is there something on your mind?” Li Bai recounted his story of being framed by treacherous ministers and exiled. The old farmer sighed and said, “Poet, even with your extraordinary talent, the situation is hopeless; it's beyond redemption. Take care of your health and wait for the right opportunity.” Though pained, Li Bai gradually accepted reality. He dedicated himself to reading, writing poetry, and painting to express his feelings. One day, a major shift occurred in the court: the treacherous ministers were dismissed, and Li Bai was exonerated and returned to the court.
Usage
用作谓语、宾语；指无法挽回
Used as a predicate or object; refers to an irreversible situation.
Examples
-
大势已去，回天无力了。
dà shì yǐ qù, huí tiān wú lì le.
It's too late, nothing can save the situation anymore.
-
面对这场危机，我们已经回天无力。
miàn duì zhè chǎng wēijī, wǒmen yǐjīng huí tiān wú lì。
We are powerless in the face of this crisis.