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徒劳

tú láo
adjective★Intermediate
general

Wasted effort; futile or unproductive work.

尽管他花了很多时间准备,但最终的结果还是徒劳的。

Although he spent a lot of time preparing, the final result was still in vain.

不要徒劳地争论,因为这不会改变任何事情。

Don't argue in vain, because it won't change anything.

💡

Often used to describe efforts that fail to achieve the desired outcome.

Collocations

徒劳无功in vain徒劳的努力fruitless effort

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

徒劳无功phrase
in vain
白费力气phrase
wasted effort

💡Pro Tip

Common Usage

Use '徒劳' to emphasize that an action or effort was unsuccessful or pointless.

⚡Gold Rule

Contextual Nuance

While '徒劳' can be translated as 'in vain,' it often carries a stronger sense of disappointment or frustration compared to English equivalents.

📖Word Origin

Composed of '徒' (empty, vain) and '劳' (labor, effort), literally meaning 'empty labor' or 'fruitless effort'.

📝Usage Notes

Commonly used to describe efforts that do not yield the expected results, often with a sense of disappointment or frustration.

Word Breakdown

徒
empty, vain
root
+
劳
labor, effort
root
汉英词典

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