/ˈhelpləs ||; ˈhɛlplɪs/adj unable to take care of yourself or do things without the help of other people 无能为力的；依赖他人的: a helpless baby 需要人照顾的婴孩 ➔helplessly adv They watched helplessly as their house went up in flames. 他们一筹莫展，眼巴巴地看着自己的房子烧成灰烬。 ➔helplessness noun [U]