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A2 adverb 10 دقیقه مطالعه

白白

bái bái

تمرین کن مثال‌ها نکات و راهنمایی‌ها 白白 در ۳۰ ثانیه

توضیح 白白 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you can think of '白白' (báibái) as a special way to say 'for nothing.' Even though '白' (bái) usually means the color white, when you see it twice like this before a verb, it means that the person did something but got no result. For example, if you go to a shop but it is closed, you might say you walked there '白白.' It is a very useful word for expressing a simple feeling of 'Oh no, I wasted my time!' At this level, just remember the pattern: 'Subject + 白白 + Verb.' It helps you sound more natural when you are disappointed about a small mistake.

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At the A2 level, you should start using '白白' to describe wasted efforts or resources. It is an adverb, so it always goes before the action. You will often see it used with '了' (le) at the end of the sentence to show that the waste has already happened. A common phrase is '白白浪费' (báibái làngfèi), which means 'to waste in vain.' You can use this when talking about wasting food, wasting money, or wasting a whole afternoon. It's a step up from just saying 'no' or 'bad' because it describes the *reason* why you are unhappy—because the effort didn't lead to anything useful.

For B1 learners, '白白' becomes a tool for adding emotional nuance to your stories. It expresses a sense of regret or frustration that is stronger than the single character '白.' While '白' might just mean 'in vain' (like '白等' - wait in vain), '白白' is more emphatic and is typically used with two-syllable verbs like '牺牲' (xīshēng - sacrifice) or '错过' (cuòguò - miss an opportunity). You should also notice that '白白' is often used in advice, like '不要白白错过机会' (Don't let the opportunity slip away for nothing). It's about the tragedy of a lost chance or a useless effort.

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At the B2 level, you can distinguish '白白' from its synonyms like '徒劳' (túláo) or '冤枉' (yuānwang). '白白' is more colloquial and emotionally charged. It highlights the 'emptiness' of the result. You will encounter it in more complex sentence structures, such as '把...白白地...了' (to waste something completely). You should also be aware of its use in social and political commentary, where it describes the waste of public funds or the 'in vain' nature of certain social movements. It is a powerful word for expressing indignation about inefficiency and lack of productivity.

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At the C1 level, you should appreciate the rhetorical power of '白白.' It is used in literature to create a sense of pathos. For instance, a character might lament a '白白' spent youth or a '白白' offered love. It functions as a critique of the void. You should also be able to use it flexibly with various resultative complements. Furthermore, you can analyze its role in the 'reduplication' of adjectives and adverbs in Chinese, where doubling the word often increases the intensity and adds a descriptive, almost visual quality to the action. It's not just that the effort was in vain; it's that the 'whiteness' (emptiness) of the result is emphasized.

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For C2 mastery, '白白' is understood within the broader context of Chinese philosophical views on 'emptiness' and 'utility.' You can use it to discuss the 'Sunk Cost Fallacy' or in high-level debates about economic efficiency. You should be able to identify its use in classical-style modern prose where it contrasts with more archaic terms for futility. Mastery at this level involves knowing exactly when '白白' provides the perfect rhythmic and emotional balance in a sentence compared to its more formal counterparts. It is about the subtle art of expressing the 'tragedy of the useless' with native-level precision and emotional weight.

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تمرین کن مثال‌ها نکات و راهنمایی‌ها

白白 در ۳۰ ثانیه

白白 (báibái) is a common Chinese adverb meaning 'in vain' or 'for nothing,' emphasizing wasted effort, time, or resources with a strong sense of regret.
It is usually placed before a verb and is frequently followed by the particle '了' to indicate a completed action that yielded no result.
Commonly paired with verbs like '浪费' (waste), '错过' (miss), and '等' (wait), it conveys frustration about the lack of a meaningful outcome.
Unlike the single '白,' '白白' is more emphatic and is generally used with multi-syllable verbs in both spoken and written modern Chinese.

The Chinese adverb 白白 (báibái) is a fascinating linguistic tool that captures a specific sense of frustration, regret, or futility. While the character 白 (bái) literally translates to the color 'white,' in this reduplicated adverbial form, it takes on the metaphorical meaning of 'empty,' 'clear,' or 'without result.' When you use 白白, you are signaling that an action was performed, resources were spent, or effort was exerted, but the outcome was zero, or worse, negative. It is the linguistic equivalent of saying something was 'for nothing' or 'in vain' in English. This word is deeply embedded in the emotional fabric of daily Chinese conversation, often used to lament lost time, wasted money, or unrequited effort.

Core Concept: The essence of 白白 lies in the gap between expectation and reality. You expected a return on your investment (of time, money, or energy), but you received nothing. It carries a heavy nuance of 'waste.'

我昨天等了他三个小时，结果他没来，我白白等了一个下午。(I waited for him for three hours yesterday, but he didn't show up; I waited all afternoon in vain.)

In a cultural context, Chinese society places a high value on efficiency and 'meaningful' action. Therefore, describing something as 白白 often implies a moral or practical failure. If you 'white-white' waste food, you are not just being inefficient; you are being wasteful in a way that deserves comment. The word is most frequently paired with verbs related to loss or consumption, such as 浪费 (làngfèi - to waste), 丢了 (diūle - lost), or 辛苦 (xīnkǔ - to work hard). It serves as an intensifier of the tragedy of the waste.

Emotional Tone: Usually negative. It expresses disappointment. However, it can occasionally be used in a self-deprecating or humorous way among friends when someone makes a silly mistake that leads to no result.

这么多好吃的菜，要是倒掉了就白白浪费了。(If all this delicious food is thrown away, it would be a total waste.)

Furthermore, 白白 is distinct from the single character 白 used as an adverb. While both can mean 'in vain,' the reduplicated 白白 is more emphatic and is almost always followed by a verb phrase that includes a resultative or aspect marker like 了 (le). It paints a more complete picture of the 'wasted' event. It is common in both spoken Mandarin and written prose, bridging the gap between casual complaint and literary description of tragedy.

Visualizing the Word: Imagine a person pouring water into a bucket with a hole in the bottom. The effort of pouring is the verb; the fact that the bucket remains empty despite the effort is the 白白.

机会就在眼前，千万不要白白错过。(The opportunity is right in front of you; do not let it slip away for nothing.)

Using 白白 (báibái) correctly requires understanding its grammatical placement and the types of verbs it typically modifies. As an adverb, its primary position is directly before the verb or the verb phrase. However, because it describes an outcome of 'nothingness,' it is almost exclusively used with verbs that imply a process that has concluded or an action that has a specific consequence (or lack thereof).

The Standard Pattern: Subject + 白白 + Verb + (Object) + 了. The addition of 了 is crucial because 白白 usually describes a completed state of waste.

他的努力都白白付出了。(All of his efforts were given in vain.)

One of the most common pairings is with the verb 浪费 (làngfèi), meaning 'to waste.' When you say 白白浪费, you are adding an extra layer of emphasis. It's not just wasted; it's wasted without any redeeming factor whatsoever. This is often used when talking about time, money, or natural resources. For instance, if you leave the lights on in an empty room, you are 白白浪费电 (wasting electricity for no reason).

Negative Sentences: In negative constructions, 白白 is often used with 'don't' (不要 - búyào) or 'cannot' (不能 - bùnéng) to give advice or warnings. 'Don't let this chance go in vain' is a classic structure.

我们不能让这些英雄白白牺牲。(We cannot let these heroes die in vain.)

Another nuance is the use of 白白 to describe getting something for free, though this is more common with the single 白 (as in 白吃白喝). However, 白白 can sometimes emphasize the lack of compensation. If you work for someone and they don't pay you, you might say you 白白干活 (worked for nothing). This highlights the unfairness of the situation. It is also important to note that 白白 usually modifies verbs with two syllables (like 浪费, 牺牲, 错过), whereas the single 白 often modifies single-syllable verbs (like 白等, 白看, 白做).

Formal vs. Informal: While 白白 is common in speech, it is also perfectly acceptable in formal writing to express a sense of tragic loss or futile effort in historical or social contexts.

如果现在放弃，之前的努力就全白白费了。(If we give up now, all previous efforts will have been for nothing.)

In the bustling streets of Beijing or the busy offices of Shanghai, 白白 (báibái) is a word you will hear whenever things don't go according to plan. It is the sound of the 'sunk cost fallacy' in action. People use it to vent their frustrations about the inefficiencies of modern life. Imagine a student who studied for the wrong exam topic, or an office worker who spent all day on a report that was suddenly cancelled. In these moments of peak annoyance, 白白 is the go-to adverb.

Scenario 1: Wasted Time: You'll hear this at bus stops or subway stations. If a bus is delayed and someone decides to take a taxi instead, they might grumble: '我在这儿白白等了半天!' (I've been waiting here for ages for nothing!)

电影票买错了，钱白白花了。(The movie tickets were wrong; the money was spent for nothing.)

In Chinese households, parents often use 白白 when lecturing children. If a child doesn't eat the expensive food provided or doesn't study hard despite expensive tutoring, a parent might say: '我们为你白白辛苦了这么多年.' (We've worked hard for you for all these years for nothing.) Here, the word carries a weight of emotional debt and expectation. It is used to highlight the value of what is being wasted.

Scenario 2: Missed Opportunities: In business or sports, coaches and managers use it to lament missed chances. '这么好的机会白白丢了' (Such a good opportunity was lost for nothing) is a common refrain after a lost game or a failed contract negotiation.

他没有准备好，结果白白错失了面试的机会。(He wasn't prepared, and as a result, he missed the interview opportunity for nothing.)

You will also find 白白 in news headlines, particularly those involving financial scams or government waste. It serves as a strong rhetorical device to provoke public indignation. When the public hears that tax money was 白白浪费, it resonates more strongly than a simple 'spent.' It implies that the money vanished into a void with no public benefit. In literature and songs, it is used to describe unrequited love—giving one's heart 白白 to someone who does not return the feeling.

For English speakers, the most common mistake with 白白 (báibái) is confusing its various meanings or using it in contexts where the color 'white' is intended. However, beyond the literal color confusion, there are several subtle grammatical traps that learners often fall into when trying to express 'in vain.'

Mistake 1: Confusing '白' and '白白': While both mean 'in vain,' they are not always interchangeable. 白 is often used with single-syllable verbs (e.g., 白跑 - run for nothing), while 白白 is preferred for multi-syllable verbs or when you want to add significant emotional emphasis. Using 白白 with a single-syllable verb like '白白走' sounds slightly unnatural; '白走了' is much better.

Incorrect: 我白白说。(I speak in vain - sounds incomplete). Correct: 我白白浪费了口舌。(I wasted my breath for nothing.)

Another mistake is forgetting the aspect marker 了 (le). Because 白白 usually refers to an action that has already resulted in waste, the sentence feels grammatically 'naked' without 了. It is a description of a completed failure. If you say '我白白浪费时间,' it sounds like a general statement, but in a specific instance, you must say '我白白浪费了时间.'

Mistake 2: 'Bye-bye' Confusion: In casual text messaging, some learners see 'báibái' and think it's the English 'bye-bye.' While 'bye-bye' is written as 拜拜 (bàibài) with fourth tones, 白白 is second tone. Using the wrong characters in a text can change 'See you later' to 'In vain,' which would be very confusing!

Context: Ending a call. Incorrect character: 白白! Correct character: 拜拜!

Finally, learners sometimes use 白白 in situations that aren't actually 'wasteful' but just 'free.' While the single 白 can mean 'for free' (e.g., 白吃 - eat for free), 白白 almost always carries a negative connotation of waste or regret. If you won a free ticket, you wouldn't say you 白白 got it, as that implies the ticket is useless. You would use '免费' (miǎnfèi) instead. 白白 is for things you *lost* or efforts that *failed*.

Understanding 白白 (báibái) becomes easier when you compare it to its synonyms and near-synonyms. Chinese has a rich vocabulary for failure and futility, and each word has a slightly different flavor. Choosing the right one depends on whether you are being formal, casual, or specifically describing a certain type of loss.

白 (bái) vs. 白白 (báibái): As mentioned, 白 is more common with single-syllable verbs and can also mean 'for free.' 白白 is more emphatic and is used for 'waste.' Example: 白等 (wait in vain) vs. 白白浪费 (waste in vain).
徒劳 (túláo): This is a more formal, often literary term. It specifically means 'futile labor.' You might see it in the idiom 徒劳无功 (túláo wúgōng - to work hard to no avail). It is less common in daily spoken complaining than 白白.
冤枉 (yuānwang): This word means 'wronged' or 'not worth it.' When used as an adverb (冤枉路 - yuānwang lù), it means taking a longer route than necessary. It implies that the waste was due to a mistake or bad luck, whereas 白白 is just about the result being zero.

Comparison:
1. 我白白等了。(I waited for nothing - casual/regretful).
2. 这种努力是徒劳的。(This kind of effort is futile - formal/analytical).

Another alternative is 空 (kōng), which means 'empty.' In classical Chinese or formal poetry, you might see 空等 or 空忙. However, in modern Mandarin, 白白 has largely replaced these in daily speech. There is also the phrase 瞎 (xiā), which literally means 'blindly.' In some dialects, people say '瞎忙' (busy for no reason), which is close to '白忙,' but 瞎 implies a lack of direction, while 白白 implies a lack of result.

Summary of Choice: Use 白白 when you feel the loss personally. Use 徒劳 when you are describing a logical impossibility. Use 冤枉 when you feel the waste was unfair or could have been avoided with better info.

走了这么多冤枉路，时间都白白浪费了。(We took so many unnecessary detours; time was completely wasted in vain.)

چقدر رسمی است؟

نکته جالب

Reduplication (repeating a word) is a common feature in Chinese to turn an adjective into an emphatic adverb. '白白' is one of the most common examples of this in daily life.

راهنمای تلفظ

UK /baɪ baɪ/

US /baɪ baɪ/

Both syllables are stressed equally, but the second 'bái' may be slightly shorter in rapid speech.

هم‌قافیه با

来 (lái) 排 (pái) 台 (tái) 开 (kāi - near rhyme) 海 (hǎi - near rhyme) 才 (cái) 财 (cái) 孩 (hái)

خطاهای رایج

Pronouncing it with falling tones like the English 'bye-bye'.
Confusing the tones with 'bǎibǎi' (hundred-hundred), which is not a common phrase.
Not using the second tone (rising) correctly, which makes it sound like 'white' as an adjective rather than 'in vain' as an adverb.
Thinking it's a single word with one stress pattern; both characters must be clearly articulated.
Mixing it up with 'bāibāi' (splitting something).

سطح دشواری

خواندن 2/5

The characters are simple (A1 level), but the adverbial meaning requires A2 understanding.

نوشتن 2/5

Easy to write, but requires knowing the correct stroke order for '白'.

صحبت کردن 3/5

Tone control is important to distinguish it from 'bye-bye'.

گوش دادن 3/5

Context is key to separate it from the color white or the English loanword.

بعداً چه یاد بگیریم؟

پیش‌نیازها

白 (Color white) 浪费 (To waste) 等 (To wait) 了 (Particle) 错 (Wrong/Miss)

بعداً یاد بگیرید

徒劳 (Futile) 冤枉 (Wronged) 牺牲 (Sacrifice) 可惜 (It's a pity) 后悔 (To regret)

پیشرفته

付诸东流 (Go down the drain) 枉费心机 (Waste energy on a scheme) 虚度光阴 (Waste time) 半途而废 (Give up halfway) 功亏一篑 (Fall at the last hurdle)

گرامر لازم

Adverbial Reduplication (AA)

白 -> 白白 (Increases emphasis and descriptive tone).

Use of '了' with Null-Result Adverbs

白白浪费了 (Required to show the state of waste is realized).

Placement of Adverbs before Verbs

Subject + 白白 + Verb (Never Verb + 白白).

Separable Verbs and Adverbs

白白跑了一趟 (Adverb modifies the whole verbal action).

Negative Imperatives with Adverbs

不要 + 白白 + Verb (Commanding not to result in waste).

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مثال‌ها بر اساس سطح

我白白等了你。

I waited for you in vain.

Subject + 白白 + Verb + 了.

钱白白花了。

The money was spent for nothing.

Shows the result of spending money without a good outcome.

他白白来了。

He came here for nothing.

Used when someone travels but the purpose isn't met.

不要白白浪费。

Don't waste it for nothing.

Negative command: 不要 + 白白 + Verb.

水白白流了。

The water flowed away in vain.

Describes natural resources being wasted.

书白白买了。

The book was bought for nothing.

Regret over a purchase.

我白白做了饭。

I cooked for nothing.

Effort spent on cooking with no one to eat.

时间白白过了。

Time passed in vain.

The most common use: wasting time.

我们白白浪费了这么多时间。

We wasted so much time for nothing.

白白 + 浪费 (two-syllable verb).

他白白丢了那个好机会。

He lost that good opportunity for nothing.

Focuses on the loss of a chance.

你不能白白让大家等。

You can't make everyone wait for nothing.

Using 'cannot' (不能) with 白白.

这些菜白白坏掉了。

These vegetables spoiled for nothing.

Describing something becoming useless.

我白白跑了一趟公司。

I made a trip to the company for nothing.

跑了一趟 is a common measure for a trip.

别白白浪费你的力气。

Don't waste your strength for nothing.

力气 (strength) is often modified by 白白.

这顿饭白白请他吃了。

This meal was treated to him for nothing (no result).

Implies the 'treat' didn't achieve its social goal.

努力不能白白付出。

Effort cannot be given for nothing.

Abstract concept of 'effort' (努力).

如果今天不去，之前的准备就白白费了。

If we don't go today, the previous preparations will be for nothing.

Using '就' to show the consequence of an action.

他白白牺牲了自己的休息时间。

He sacrificed his rest time for nothing.

牺牲 (sacrifice) is a strong verb often paired with 白白.

我们不能让英雄的血白白流。

We cannot let the heroes' blood be shed in vain.

A more formal, patriotic usage.

由于天气原因，我们的计划白白取消了。

Due to the weather, our plans were cancelled in vain.

Explaining the cause of the waste.

这种好产品白白错过了市场。

This good product missed the market for nothing.

Business context: missing a market window.

她白白受了这么多苦，结果还是没成功。

She suffered so much in vain, and in the end, she still didn't succeed.

受苦 (to suffer) + 结果 (result).

别把这么好的纸白白扔了。

Don't throw away such good paper for nothing.

把-structure with 白白.

他白白等了一个下午，心情很不好。

He waited all afternoon for nothing; he's in a bad mood.

Connecting the waste to an emotional state.

所有的心血都白白耗费在这个项目上了。

All the painstaking effort was spent in vain on this project.

心血 (painstaking effort) and 耗费 (consume/spend).

他白白错过了一个改变命运的机会。

He let a life-changing opportunity slip away for nothing.

Emphasizing the gravity of the missed chance.

如果不珍惜，天赋也会白白荒废。

If not cherished, talent will also go to waste for nothing.

荒废 (to fall into disuse/waste) is a sophisticated pairing.

他白白背负了这么多年的骂名。

He bore a bad reputation for so many years for nothing (unjustly).

背负骂名 (to bear a bad name) + 白白.

投资人的钱不能这样白白蒸发掉。

Investors' money cannot just evaporate like this for nothing.

Metaphorical use of 蒸发 (evaporate).

这段感情我白白投入了五年。

I invested five years into this relationship for nothing.

Using 白白 to describe the loss of time in a relationship.

不能让这些珍贵的资源白白流失。

We cannot let these precious resources drain away for nothing.

流失 (to be washed away/lost) often refers to talent or resources.

他白白做了这么多工作，却没得到任何认可。

He did so much work for nothing, yet received no recognition.

Contrasting effort with lack of reward.

历史的教训不应被白白遗忘。

The lessons of history should not be forgotten in vain.

Passive structure with 被 and formal vocabulary.

她那绝世的才华就这样白白埋没了。

Her peerless talent was thus buried in vain.

埋没 (to bury/smother talent) is a literary pairing.

难道我们要白白坐视这种不公发生吗？

Are we to just sit by and watch this injustice happen for nothing?

Rhetorical question using 难道...吗.

他的一生似乎都在白白地虚度。

His whole life seems to have been spent idling away in vain.

虚度 (to idle away time) + 白白地.

这种妥协只会让之前的坚持白白付诸东流。

This compromise will only make previous persistence go down the drain in vain.

付诸东流 (idiom: to go down the drain).

我们白白耗费了大量的公帑却毫无建树。

We wasted a large amount of public funds for nothing and achieved nothing.

公帑 (public funds) and 毫无建树 (achieve nothing).

才华若无勤奋支撑，终将白白荒废。

If talent is not supported by diligence, it will eventually go to waste.

Conditional structure with 若...终将.

他不愿看到自己的理想白白幻灭。

He did not want to see his ideals vanish into thin air for nothing.

幻灭 (disillusionment/vanishing of dreams).

若任由光阴白白荏苒，吾辈将何以面对后世？

If we allow time to slip away in vain, how shall our generation face posterity?

Highly formal/literary style using 荏苒 (of time passing).

此番博弈，若处置不当，恐将白白丧失战略主动权。

In this round of gaming, if handled improperly, I fear we will lose the strategic initiative for nothing.

Geopolitical/Strategic context.

千万莫让这番苦心孤诣白白付之阙如。

By no means let this painstaking effort be completely in vain/missing.

苦心孤诣 (painstaking effort) and 付之阙如 (to be missing/lacking).

在历史的宏大叙事中，个人的苦难往往被白白消解。

In the grand narrative of history, individual suffering is often dissolved in vain.

Philosophical/Sociological discourse.

资产的白白流失，实则是对社会契约的背弃。

The wasteful loss of assets is, in reality, a betrayal of the social contract.

Legal/Political theory context.

即便结局是白白牺牲，他亦义无反顾。

Even if the end is a sacrifice in vain, he would still proceed without hesitation.

义无反顾 (to proceed without turning back).

这种低效的体制导致了人力资源的白白内耗。

This inefficient system led to the wasteful internal friction of human resources.

内耗 (internal friction/wastage).

莫让韶华白白虚掷于琐碎之事。

Do not let the prime of youth be wasted in vain on trivial matters.

韶华 (prime of youth) and 虚掷 (to throw away/waste).

ترکیب‌های رایج

白白浪费

白白错过

白白牺牲

白白付出

白白丢了

白白流失

白白受苦

白白耗费

白白送死

白白荒废

عبارات رایج

白白等了一个下午

— Waited all afternoon for nothing. Used to express annoyance about a no-show.

我在咖啡馆白白等了一个下午。

白白浪费口舌

— To waste one's breath. Used when someone won't listen to advice.

跟他解释简直是白白浪费口舌。

白白搭上一条命

— To lose one's life for nothing. A tragic expression of futile sacrifice.

为了这种事白白搭上一条命，不值得。

白白跑一趟

— To make a trip for nothing. Very common when a destination is closed or a person is out.

超市关门了，我白白跑了一趟。

白白便宜了他

— To let someone get away with something or benefit unfairly.

不能就这样白白便宜了他。

白白流了一身汗

— To sweat for nothing. Used after physical labor that didn't achieve its goal.

搬了半天家，结果搬错了，白白流了一身汗。

白白花了不少钱

— To spend a lot of money for no good reason or result.

这件衣服质量太差，白白花了不少钱。

白白送人

— To give something away for free, often with a sense of regret that it wasn't sold.

旧家具卖不掉，只能白白送人了。

白白干活

— To work for no pay or no result. Expresses frustration about labor.

老板不给钱，我这是白白干活。

白白辛苦

— To work hard in vain. A general expression of wasted effort.

准备了这么久，活动取消了，真是白白辛苦。

اغلب اشتباه گرفته می‌شود با

白白 vs 拜拜 (bàibài)

English loanword for 'bye-bye'. Different tones (4th vs 2nd) and different characters.

白白 vs 白 (bái) - color

Same character, but as an adjective it means white, as an adverb it means in vain.

白白 vs 免费 (miǎnfèi)

Means 'free of charge.' '白' can sometimes mean free, but '白白' usually means wasted.

اصطلاحات و عبارات

"白手起家"

— To start from scratch. Note: '白' here means empty-handed, not 'in vain.'

他白手起家，创立了这家公司。

Positive

"徒劳无功"

— To work hard to no avail. A formal equivalent to '白白辛苦.'

没有正确的方向，再努力也是徒劳无功。

Formal

"付诸东流"

— To go down the drain. Often used with '白白' to describe effort.

他的计划白白付诸东流了。

Literary

"半途而废"

— To give up halfway, leading to the effort being '白白浪费.'

既然开始了，就不要半途而废，否则之前的努力就白白浪费了。

Neutral

"劳而无功"

— Labor without achievement. Very similar to '白白辛苦.'

这种低效率的工作方式只会让人劳而无功。

Formal

"虚度年华"

— To waste the best years of one's life. '白白' is the implied adverb.

我们不能白白虚度年华。

Literary

"枉费心机"

— To waste one's energy on a scheme. Implies a clever plan that failed.

他想骗我，真是枉费心机。

Negative

"大材小用"

— Great talent used for small tasks—a form of '白白浪费' talent.

让他扫大街真是大材小用，白白浪费了人才。

Neutral

"石沉大海"

— Like a stone sinking into the sea—no response, implying the effort was '白白.'

我寄出的信石沉大海，白白等了这么久。

Metaphorical

"事倍功半"

— Twice the effort for half the result. Leads to '白白' effort.

方法不对，就会事倍功半，白白受累。

Neutral

به‌راحتی اشتباه گرفته می‌شود

白白 vs 徒劳 (túláo)

Both mean 'in vain.'

徒劳 is formal and suggests an impossible task; 白白 is casual and suggests a wasted result.

白白等了 (casual) vs 徒劳无功 (formal).

白白 vs 冤枉 (yuānwang)

Both describe a waste of effort.

冤枉 implies a mistake or unfairness; 白白 just focuses on the zero result.

白白浪费时间 vs 走了冤枉路.

白白 vs 可惜 (kěxī)

Both express regret about waste.

可惜 is an adjective/adverb meaning 'it's a pity'; 白白 describes the *manner* of the waste.

这太可惜了 vs 这白白浪费了.

白白 vs 瞎 (xiā)

Both mean doing something without a good result.

瞎 means doing it blindly or without a plan; 白白 means the outcome was zero.

他在瞎忙 (aimless) vs 他白白忙了一天 (fruitless).

白白 vs 空 (kōng)

Both involve the idea of 'emptiness.'

空 is more literary and often refers to empty space or empty promises; 白白 is the standard adverb for wasted action.

空谈 (empty talk) vs 白白浪费 (wasted).

الگوهای جمله‌سازی

我白白等了[Time].

我白白等了一个小时。

不要白白浪费[Noun].

不要白白浪费食物。

要是[Action], 就白白[Verb]了。

要是你不来，我就白白等了。

不能让[Person]白白[Verb].

不能让战士们白白牺牲。

[Effort]都白白付出了。

我的心血都白白付出了。

白白错过了一个[Opportunity]的机会。

白白错过了一个出国深造的机会。

难道要白白坐视[Injustice]吗？

难道我们要白白坐视他的才华被埋没吗？

莫让[Time/Youth]白白[Verb].

莫让韶华白白虚掷。

خانواده کلمه

اسم‌ها

白费 (báifèi) - Wasted effort (can act as a noun-like verb phrase)

فعل‌ها

白干 (báigàn) - To work for nothing

白忙 (báimáng) - To be busy for nothing

白等 (báiděng) - To wait in vain

صفت‌ها

白的 (báide) - White (literal color)

空白 (kòngbái) - Blank/Empty

مرتبط

浪费 (làngfèi) - To waste

牺牲 (xīshēng) - To sacrifice

错过 (cuòguò - To miss

徒劳 (túláo) - Futile

冤枉 (yuānwang) - Wronged/Not worth it

برای دیدن همه مثال‌ها رایگان ثبت‌نام کنید

نحوه استفاده

frequency

Very common in daily life, news, and literature.

اشتباهات رایج

Using '白白' as an adjective (e.g., 'This effort is báibái'). → This effort was for nothing (这个努力白白费了).
'白白' is an adverb and must modify a verb, not stand alone as a predicate adjective.
Confusing '白白' (in vain) with '拜拜' (bye-bye). → Use bàibài for goodbye and báibái for in vain.
This is a common tone mistake for beginners. Tone 2 vs Tone 4.
Omitting '了' in specific instances of waste. → 我白白浪费了时间。
Without '了,' the sentence sounds like a general habit rather than a specific event of waste.
Using '白白' for positive 'free' things. → Use 免费 (miǎnfèi) for free gifts.
'白白' implies regret or waste. You wouldn't say you 'white-white' got a million dollars unless you think it's a bad thing.
Placing '白白' after the verb. → 白白浪费 (not 浪费白白).
In Chinese, adverbs almost always precede the verb they modify.

نکات

Pair with Resultative Verbs

Always try to pair '白白' with verbs that have a clear result or loss, like 浪费, 丢, 错过, or 牺牲. This makes your Chinese sound much more natural.

The Rising Tone

Make sure to use the second tone (bái). If you use the fourth tone, people will think you are saying goodbye!

Don't Forget '了'

Because 'in vain' usually refers to a completed disappointment, '了' at the end of the sentence is your best friend.

Emphatic Reduplication

Remember that repeating the word '白' makes the feeling of waste much stronger than just saying '白' once.

Sympathy vs. Criticism

Be careful with your tone. '你白白浪费了时间' can be a supportive 'What a pity' or a harsh 'You failed.' Context matters!

Office Talk

In an office, use '白白' to complain about meetings that could have been emails. It’s a very relatable sentiment.

Formal Writing

In formal essays, you can use '白白地' to add a touch of sophistication to your adverbial phrases.

White vs. Free

If you mean 'free of charge,' use '免费.' If you mean 'I did work and didn't get paid,' use '白' or '白白.'

Spot the Adverb

When listening, if 'báibái' is followed by a verb, it's almost never about the color white.

The Blank Page

Keep the 'Blank Page' image in your mind. No matter what you did, the result is still a blank page.

حفظ کنید

روش یادسپاری

Imagine a 'white' (blank) piece of paper. You tried to write a story on it, but the pen had no ink. Your effort was 'white-white'—it left the paper perfectly blank and was all for nothing.

تداعی تصویری

Visualize a person pouring a glass of milk (white) onto a white floor. It disappears and leaves no mark; the milk is wasted, and the floor looks the same. That is '白白.'

شبکه واژگان

浪费 (Waste) 时间 (Time) 金钱 (Money) 努力 (Effort) 牺牲 (Sacrifice) 错过 (Miss) 徒劳 (Futile) 等 (Wait)

چالش

Try to think of three things you did this week that were '白白.' For example, did you wait for a bus that never came? Did you buy a snack that tasted bad? Say these out loud using the 'Subject + 白白 + Verb + 了' pattern.

ریشه کلمه

The character '白' (bái) originally depicted a grain of rice or a sun rising, symbolizing whiteness and clarity. In ancient Chinese, '白' evolved to mean 'plain,' 'empty,' or 'without addition.'

معنای اصلی: The adverbial use of '白' to mean 'in vain' comes from the idea of 'blankness'—an action that leaves the situation as blank as it was before.

Sino-Tibetan (Sinitic branch).

بافت فرهنگی

Be careful when using '白白' to describe someone else's efforts, as it can sound very dismissive or hurtful if they worked hard.

English speakers often use 'for nothing' or 'in vain.' '白白' perfectly maps to these, but it feels more visceral in Chinese because of the visual of the color white.

鲁迅 (Lu Xun), a famous writer, often used '白白' to describe the wasted lives of people in old China. The phrase '白白浪费' is a staple of Chinese public service announcements about saving water and electricity. Many Mandopop songs use '白白' to describe unrequited love (e.g., '白白付出的一颗心').

تمرین در زندگی واقعی

موقعیت‌های واقعی

Waiting for someone

白白等了半天
白白跑了一趟
白白等候
白白浪费时间

Wasting resources

白白浪费电
白白浪费水
白白浪费钱
白白扔掉

Missed opportunities

白白错过机会
白白丢了名额
白白丧失良机
白白放过

Effort without result

白白辛苦一场
白白付出努力
白白忙活
白白受累

Tragic loss

白白牺牲生命
白白受苦
白白送死
白白流血

شروع‌کننده‌های مکالمه

"你有没有过白白等人的经历？ (Have you ever had the experience of waiting for someone in vain?)"

"你觉得现在的年轻人是不是在白白浪费时间？ (Do you think young people nowadays are wasting their time for nothing?)"

"如果一个项目取消了，你会觉得之前的努力都白白费了吗？ (If a project is cancelled, do you feel all previous efforts were in vain?)"

"你最讨厌白白浪费什么东西？ (What do you hate wasting for nothing the most?)"

"你曾经为了一个不值得的人白白付出过吗？ (Have you ever given so much for someone who wasn't worth it?)"

موضوعات نگارش

写一写你上一次白白跑一趟的经历。 (Write about the last time you made a trip for nothing.)

描述一个你认为被白白浪费掉的机会。 (Describe an opportunity that you think was wasted in vain.)

你认为如何才能避免白白辛苦？ (How do you think one can avoid working hard in vain?)

讨论一下保护环境和避免白白浪费资源的重要性。 (Discuss the importance of protecting the environment and avoiding the wasteful use of resources.)

如果你的努力白白付出了，你会如何调整自己的心态？ (If your efforts were in vain, how would you adjust your mindset?)

سوالات متداول

10 سوال

No, 'bye-bye' is '拜拜' (bàibài) with fourth (falling) tones. '白白' (báibái) has second (rising) tones and means 'in vain.' Using the wrong one will confuse people!

Yes, almost always. It describes waste, regret, or futility. Even when it means 'for free,' there is often a sense that the giver lost out or the gift was useless.

'白' is shorter and often used with single-syllable verbs like '白等.' '白白' is more emphatic and is used with longer verbs like '白白浪费.' '白' can also mean 'for free' more often than '白白.'

In most cases, yes. Since '白白' describes a result of 'nothingness,' you usually use '了' to show the action is finished and the waste is realized.

Yes, '白白地' (báibái de) is the more formal adverbial form. In casual speech, the '地' is almost always dropped.

Not usually. It describes actions. You wouldn't call a person '白白,' but you could say their life was '白白虚度了' (wasted in vain).

Yes, it's used to describe wasted investments, lost opportunities, or inefficient processes.

The pattern is 'Subject + 把 + Object + 白白(地) + Verb + 了.' For example: '他把钱白白浪费了' (He wasted the money for nothing).

As an adjective, '白白的' (báibái de) can mean 'pale' or 'pure white' (like skin or clouds), but as an adverb before a verb, it only means 'in vain.'

It is generally considered an A2/B1 word. Basic usage is A2, but nuanced emotional usage is B1 and above.

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