Word Detail

身不由己

shēn bù yóu jǐ

without the freedom to act independently (idiom); involuntary, not of one's own volition, in spite of oneself

HSK 7-9 (v3.0)

Examples

人在江湖，身不由己。

Rén zài jiānghú, shēnbùyóujǐ.

One cannot help oneself in the arena of the world.

真是身不由己。

Zhēnshì shēnbùyóujǐ.

Really can't help it.