人在江湖，身不由己
rén​zài​jiāng​hú​shēn​bù​yóu​jǐ

to be unable to do as one likes

  1. 人 rén noun
    person
    person; people; human being; a human
  2. 在 zài preposition
    to be at
    To be located at, in, or on; to be present or at home.
  3. 江湖 jiāng​hú
    rivers and lakes
    rivers and lakes; all corners of the country; the world at large
  4. ， shēn
    non-Chinese
  5. 身不由己 shēn​bù​yóu​jǐ
    involuntarily
    (idiom) unable to do as one wishes due to circumstances beyond one's control; having no choice in how to act