mou5 dak1 gaan2冇得揀冇得拣

Jyutpingmou5 dak1 gaan2

Yalemóuh dāk gáan

Definition

To have no choice; to be left with no other option.

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How it's used

This phrase is the standard way to express that one is forced into a situation due to a lack of alternatives. It is frequently used to justify a decision that is less than ideal, emphasizing that the speaker would have preferred something else if it were available. It carries a sense of resignation or helplessness regarding external circumstances.

Examples

le1呢fan2份gung1工jan4人gung1工dai1低，daan6但hai6係mou5冇dak1得gaan2揀。

The pay for this job is low, but there is no choice.

ceoi4除zo2咗ni1呢go3個fong1方faat3法，zung6仲jau5有mou5冇dak1得gaan2揀aa4呀？

Besides this method, is there any other choice?

Common phrases

zan1真hai6係mou5冇dak1得gaan2揀

really have no choice

Common mistake

Learners often mistakenly use 冇選擇, which sounds like a direct translation from written Chinese and feels unnatural in spoken Cantonese. Always prefer 冇得揀 to sound like a local.