Powerlessness is the state of not being able to stop or change something, because you do not have the strength, the money, the position, or the legal right to do it.

Powerlessness無能為力 is the state of not being able to stop or change something是指無法阻止或改變某件事的狀態 because you do not have the strength, the money, the position, or the legal right to do it因為你沒有力量、金錢、地位，或法律上的權利去做

People use it a lot for a feeling: you watch something bad happen, and there is nothing in your hands. A child can feel it when adults decide everything; a worker can feel it when the company is too big to argue with; a patient can feel it in a hospital corridor.

People use it a lot for a feeling人們常用這個字表達一種感覺 you watch something bad happen你眼睜睜看著壞事發生 and there is nothing in your hands而你手上什麼都做不了 A child can feel it孩子可能會有這種感覺 when adults decide everything當大人決定一切的時候 a worker can feel it工人也可能有這種感覺 when the company is too big to argue with當公司大到無法對抗 a patient can feel it病人也可能有這種感覺 in a hospital corridor在醫院走廊上

Though actually, it is not only a mood. If the law says you may not vote, or a storm is stronger than any person on the street, that is powerlessness as a hard fact, not just a sad thought.

Though actually不過其實 it is not only a mood它不只是一種心情 If the law says you may not vote如果法律規定你不能投票 or a storm is stronger than any person on the street或暴風雨比街上任何人都強大 that is powerlessness as a hard fact那就是實實在在的無能為力 not just a sad thought而不只是一種難過的想法

The word is a little formal. In everyday talk someone might just say "I can't do anything" or "there's nothing I can do." Teachers, news writers, and people talking about politics, illness, or disaster use it more than kitchen chat does.

The word is a little formal這個字有點正式 In everyday talk在日常對話裡 someone might just say "I can't do anything"有人可能只會說「我什麼都做不了」 or "there's nothing I can do."或「我一點辦法都沒有」 Teachers, news writers, and people talking about politics, illness, or disaster老師、新聞寫作者，以及談論政治、疾病或災難的人 use it more than kitchen chat does比日常閒聊更常用這個字