in vain; to no avail; futilely
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesadverb
in vain; to no avail; futilely; for nothing
literaryIndicates that an action was performed but produced no result or benefit. Often used in written or formal contexts to emphasize wasted effort.
Wǎng枉
zì自
fèi费
le了
bàn半
tiān天
jìn劲
，
shén什
me么
yě也
méi没
bàn办
chéng成
。
I wasted half a day's effort in vain and didn't accomplish anything.
Nǐ你
wǎng枉
zì自
děng等
le了
tā他
zhè这
me么
jiǔ久
，
tā他
shì是
bù不
huì会
lái来
de的
。
You waited for him all this time for nothing—he isn't going to come.
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Wǎng枉
zì自
dú读
le了
zhè这
me么
duō多
shū书
，
què却
lián连
zhè这
diǎn点
dào道
li理
dōu都
bù不
dǒng懂
。
You studied so many books in vain, yet you don't even understand this simple truth.