waste in vain; spend futilely
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to waste (time, effort, words) in vain; to spend futilely
Often used with abstract nouns such as 工夫 (effort), 心机 (scheming), or 唇舌 (words). Implies that the effort expended produces no result.
Bù不
yào要
wǎng枉
fèi费
gōng工
fū夫
le了
，
zhè这
shì是
bù不
kě可
néng能
de的
。
Don't waste your effort; this is impossible.
Tā他
wǎng枉
fèi费
xīn心
jī机
，
xiǎng想
xiàn陷
hài害
bié别
rén人
，
jié结
guǒ果
fǎn反
ér而
hài害
le了
zì自
jǐ己
。
He wasted his scheming trying to frame others, but in the end he hurt himself instead.
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Wǒ我
yǐ已
jīng经
quàn劝
guò过
tā他
hěn很
duō多
cì次
le了
，
zhēn真
shì是
wǎng枉
fèi费
chún唇
shé舌
。
I've already advised him many times; it really is a waste of words.
Rú如
guǒ果
nǐ你
bù不
xiāng相
xìn信
，
wǒ我
zài再
shuō说
yě也
shì是
wǎng枉
fèi费
kǒu口
shé舌
。
If you don't believe me, it would be a waste of breath for me to say more.