helpless
gb/hˈɛlpləs/ us/hˈɛlpləs/
A2
Kiingereza
~ 3300
tehetetlen, magatehetetlen
B1
1
tehetetlen
B2
Muundo wa matumizi:
[someone] is helpless
The injured hiker felt helpless as night fell.
Ahogy leszállt az éj, a sérült túrázó tehetetlennek érezte magát.
She stood helpless in the rain, waiting for help.
Tehetetlenül állt az esőben, és segítségre várt.
The baby was completely helpless without its parents.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
I felt helpless when my phone broke.
Tehetetlennek éreztem magam, amikor elromlott a telefonom.
The small bird was helpless on the ground.
A kismadár tehetetlenül feküdt a földön.
He is helpless without his glasses.
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes confuse 'helpless' with 'useless'. 'Helpless' means unable to act in a situation, while 'useless' means not effective or without value.
Maana
Unable to act or protect oneself
Miunganiko ya maneno
feel helpless
|completely helpless
|helpless victim
|helpless child
Visawe
powerless (Emphasizes a lack of control or influence rather than physical inability.)
Vinyume
capable (Suggests having the ability or power to act effectively.)
Mada
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Ufafanuzi
Not able to do anything to help yourself or stop something bad.
Lacking the ability or strength to take action or protect oneself from harm or difficulty.
B1
2
tehetetlen
B2
Muundo wa matumizi:
[someone] is helpless against [something]
We were helpless against the rising floodwaters.
Tehetetlenek voltunk az egyre emelkedő árvízzel szemben.
He felt helpless to change the unfair decision.
Tehetetlennek érezte magát: nem tudott változtatni az igazságtalan döntésen.
The villagers were helpless in the face of the drought.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
I am helpless against this big problem.
Tehetetlen vagyok ezzel a nagy problémával szemben.
She was helpless to stop the fight.
Tehetetlen volt, nem tudta megállítani a verekedést.
We were helpless in the heavy snow.
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners may confuse 'helpless' with 'hopeless'. 'Helpless' is about inability to act; 'hopeless' is about no chance of success.
Maana
Unable to stop something from happening
Miunganiko ya maneno
helpless against the storm
|helpless in the face of
|helpless to stop
Visawe
defenseless (Highlights a lack of protection against an attack or harm.)
Vinyume
resistant (Able to withstand or prevent something from affecting you.)
Mada
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Ufafanuzi
Not able to stop something from happening.
Unable to prevent or stop an event, action, or situation from occurring.
A2
3
Muundo wa matumizi:
[someone] is helpless and needs [someone/something]
The accident left him helpless and bedridden for months.
A baleset után hónapokig magatehetetlenül feküdt az ágyban.
Helpless patients require constant attention from nurses.
A magatehetetlen betegeknek állandó ápolói felügyeletre van szükségük.
The kitten was helpless without its mother.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
The sick man is helpless in bed.
A beteg férfi magatehetetlenül fekszik az ágyban.
The baby is helpless and needs food.
A kisbaba magatehetetlen, és meg kell etetni.
She is helpless after the fall.
Maana
Requiring complete care from others
Miunganiko ya maneno
helpless patient
|helpless elderly
|helpless animal
Visawe
dependent (Focuses on relying on others, not necessarily due to inability to act physically.)
Vinyume
self-sufficient (Able to take care of oneself without help from others.)
Mada
healthcare
|daily life
|health
|daily_life
Ufafanuzi
Needing other people to take care of you completely.
Needing others to provide all necessary care and assistance due to age, illness, or disability.
Sarufi
Umbo la kamusi
helpless
IPA
GB/hˈɛlpləs/
US/hˈɛlpləs/
Silabi na mkazo
help - less (silabi 2)
Stress on 1st syllable (help)
Maumbo ya neno
Adjective
- Base: helpless
Familia ya neno
Semi
feel helpless
1/fˈil hˈɛlpləs/
fixed phrase
To feel unable to act or help
To have the feeling that you cannot do anything to make a situation better.
Mifano
- I felt helpless watching the disaster on TV.
- Parents often feel helpless when their children are sick.
helpless with laughter
1/hˈɛlpləs wˈɪθ lˈæftɚ/
fixed phrase
Laughing so much you can't control yourself
Laughing so much that you cannot stop or do anything else.
Mifano
- He was helpless with laughter after hearing the joke.
- They were all helpless with laughter during the comedy show.
stand by helplessly
1/stˈænd bˈaɪ hˈɛlpləsli/
fixed phrase
Watch without being able to help
To watch something happen without being able to do anything about it.
Mifano
- We stood by helplessly as the house burned down.
- She stood by helplessly while her friend was taken away.