zěn nài
(often used in early vernacular) but alas; however
怎
zěn
how
奈
nài
used in expressions that convey frustration and futility, such as 無奈|无奈[wu2 nai4] and 莫可奈何|莫可奈何[mo4 ke3 nai4 he2] (literary)
Review