The Chinese word 不得已 is a four-character idiom formed by combining the negative construction 不得 (bùdé, meaning "cannot" or "must not") with the verb 已 (yǐ, meaning "to stop" or "to cease"). Literally, it translates to "cannot stop [doing it]" or "cannot but", which semantically evolves to express the idea of having no alternative or being compelled by circumstances to act in a certain way. It conveys a sense of reluctant necessity or acting out of compulsion rather than choice, often used in formal contexts to describe actions taken as a last resort.