不得已："不得已" is typically used to express that an action or decision was made out of necessity rather than desire, usually because of circumstances that leave no alternative. It's often used in situations where one is reluctantly forced to make a choice.
小明: 你怎么突然辞职了？不是说好要坚持下去的吗？
(Xiǎo Míng): Nǐ zěnme túrán cí zhí le? Bù shì shuō hǎo yào jiānchí xiàqù de ma?
小李: 其实我也很不想辞职，可是公司最近的变化让我不得已做出了这个决定。
(Xiǎo Lǐ): Qíshí wǒ yě hěn bù xiǎng cí zhí, kěshì gōngsī zuìjìn de biànhuà ràng wǒ bù dé yǐ zuò chū le zhège juédìng.
小明: 哦，原来是这样。你打算做什么？
(Xiǎo Míng): Ó, yuánlái shì zhèyàng. Nǐ dǎsuàn zuò shénme?
小李: 我还没想好，但总不能一直这样下去，我得找到更适合自己的工作。
(Xiǎo Lǐ): Wǒ hái méi xiǎng hǎo, dàn zǒng bù néng yīzhí zhèyàng xiàqù, wǒ děi zhǎodào gèng shìhé zìjǐ de gōngzuò.
Translation:
Xiao Ming: Why did you suddenly resign? Didn’t you say you were going to stick it out?
Xiao Li: Actually, I really didn’t want to quit, but the recent changes at the company left me no choice but to make this decision.
Xiao Ming: Oh, I see. So what are you planning to do?
Xiao Li: I haven’t figured it out yet, but I can’t go on like this forever. I need to find a job that suits me better.
Dialogue #2:
小杰: 你为什么不参加今晚的聚会？大家都很期待你来！
(Xiǎo Jié): Nǐ wèishéme bù cānjiā jīn wǎn de jùhuì? Dàjiā dōu hěn qīdài nǐ lái!
小芳: 我本来很想去，但我得照顾生病的妈妈，实在是不得已。
(Xiǎo Fāng): Wǒ běnlái hěn xiǎng qù, dàn wǒ děi zhàogù shēngbìng de māmā, shízài shì bù dé yǐ.
小杰: 哦，那就没办法了，家人最重要。
(Xiǎo Jié): Ó, nà jiù méi bànfǎ le, jiārén zuì zhòngyào.
Translation:
Xiaojie: Why aren’t you coming to the gathering tonight? Everyone’s looking forward to seeing you!
Xiaofang: I really wanted to go, but I have to take care of my sick mom. I really have no choice.
Xiaojie: Oh, then there’s nothing we can do. Family is the most important.
Example Sentences:
1. 他们这样做是出于不得已。(Tāmen zhèyàng zuò shì chū yú bùdéyǐ.) They did it that way b/c they had no choice.
2. 不到万不得已，他不亲自出马。(Bù dào wànbùdéyǐ, tā bù qīnzì chūmǎ) Unless absolutely necessary, he never appears in person.
3. 他知道这只是万不得已的办法。(Tā zhīdào zhè zhǐshì wànbùdéyǐ de bànfǎ.) He knew it was the last resort.