徒劳 signifies efforts or actions that yield no desired outcome, emphasizing futility and wasted endeavor.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Effort or action yielding no desired outcome.
- Describes wasted or ineffective attempts.
- Signifies futility and lack of success.
Overview
“徒劳”是一个形容词性副词，用来描述某种行为、努力或尝试是白费的、没有效果的。它的核心含义是“白白地付出劳动而没有收获”。这个词通常带有消极的色彩，表达一种失望、无奈或对无用功的批判。在语体上，它偏向书面语和正式语境，但在口语中如果需要强调某种努力的彻底失败，也会使用。
“徒劳”在句子中主要作为状语修饰动词，表示动作的无效性，例如“徒劳地挣扎”、“徒劳地等待”。它也可以与“是”字结构结合，形成“是徒劳的”，用来评价某种情况或行为的结果。此外，“徒劳”经常出现在一些固定搭配和成语中，如最常见的“徒劳无功”，直接表达了“付出劳动却没有功劳或成果”的意思。当它修饰名词时，通常会带有“的”字，如“徒劳的努力”。
“徒劳”常用于描述以下几种情境：1. 描述失败的尝试：例如，一个人在面对不可抗拒的困难时所做的努力，最终没有改变结果。2. 描述无意义的等待：等待一个永远不会出现的结果或人。3. 描述浪费时间或资源的行为：投入了大量精力但最终一无所获。4. 表达对某种绝望或无望处境的看法：认为在某种情况下，任何行动都将是徒劳的。它通常出现在新闻报道、文学作品、评论文章以及日常生活中对失败经历的反思中。
“徒劳”与“白费力气”、“枉然”、“无济于事”等词语有相似之处，但侧重点略有不同。
- 徒劳 (tú láo)：强调付出的劳动或努力没有带来预期结果，带有“白白地、空无”的意味，语气较正式。
- 白费力气 (bái fèi lì qì)：更口语化，侧重于“白白地浪费了体力或精力”，通常指具体的、看得见的努力。
- 枉然 (wǎng rán)：与“徒劳”意思相近，也指白费，但“枉然”更强调结果的空虚和遗憾，有时带有惋惜的意味，常用于书面语。
- 无济于事 (wú jì yú shì)：指对事情没有任何帮助或补救作用，强调的是“没有效果、无益”，不一定强调付出了努力。例如，哭泣对于解决问题无济于事，但哭泣本身不一定是“徒劳的努力”。
Examples
他尝试了各种方法来解决问题，但一切努力最终都徒劳无功。
everydayHe tried various methods to solve the problem, but all efforts ultimately came to nothing.
面对强大的自然灾害，人类的某些抗争有时显得十分徒劳。
formalIn the face of powerful natural disasters, some human struggles occasionally appear quite futile.
别再徒劳地劝他了，他已经下定决心，谁也改变不了。
informalStop trying to persuade him in vain; he's made up his mind, and no one can change it.
这项研究表明，在特定条件下，重复的实验操作是徒劳的，无法得出有效数据。
academicThis research indicates that, under specific conditions, repetitive experimental operations are futile and cannot yield valid data.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
徒劳无功
to work in vain; to get nothing for one's pains
徒劳的挣扎
futile struggle
一切都是徒劳
everything is in vain
Often Confused With
While similar, '白费力气' (bái fèi lì qì) is more colloquial and often emphasizes wasted physical or mental energy. '徒劳' is more formal and broadly refers to any effort without result.
'毫无意义' (háo wú yì yì) means 'meaningless' or 'pointless'. It describes a lack of significance or purpose, which can be broader than just a failed effort. '徒劳' specifically implies effort that was expended but yielded no positive outcome.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
徒劳 (tú láo) carries a relatively formal or literary tone, often used in written contexts or more serious discussions. It expresses a sense of regret or disappointment over wasted effort or a lack of desired results. It can function as an adverb (e.g., 徒劳地等待) or as part of a predicative phrase (e.g., 他的努力是徒劳的), and is frequently found in fixed expressions like 徒劳无功.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is using '徒劳' to describe minor, insignificant failures where the effort wasn't particularly substantial, which can sound overly dramatic. Another error is to confuse it with simply being 'wrong' or 'mistaken'; '徒劳' specifically implies an effort that was made but failed to achieve its goal. Incorrect placement in a sentence, such as using it as a direct adjective before a noun without '的' (e.g., *徒劳人), is also a mistake.
Tips
Adverbial Usage
Remember that '徒劳' often functions as an adverb, typically preceding the verb it modifies. For example, '徒劳地' (futilely) + verb.
Formal Tone
While usable in spoken Chinese, '徒劳' carries a more formal or literary tone. In very casual conversations, more colloquial alternatives like '白费力气' might be preferred.
Value of Efficiency
The concept of '徒劳' reflects the strong cultural value placed on efficiency and tangible results in Chinese society. Wasted effort is generally viewed negatively.
Word Origin
The character 徒 (tú) originally meant 'barefoot' or 'empty-handed', evolving to mean 'in vain' or 'futile'. 劳 (láo) means 'labor', 'toil', or 'exertion'. Combined, 徒劳 thus signifies effort or labor that is expended without any positive outcome, hence 'futile labor'.
Cultural Context
In Chinese culture, there is a strong emphasis on achieving results and efficiency. The concept of '徒劳' reflects a negative assessment of wasted resources, time, or energy. It often conveys a sense of resignation or a critical view of actions that lack foresight or effectiveness, aligning with practical and pragmatic values.
Memory Tip
Think of '徒' (tú) as 'empty' or 'in vain' (like 徒手, empty-handed) and '劳' (láo) as 'labor' or 'effort'. So, '徒劳' literally means 'empty labor' or 'labor in vain', making the meaning of futility clear.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions“徒劳”通常更正式，强调的是付出劳动或努力后没有获得任何成果或效果，带有书面语色彩。而“白费力气”则更口语化，侧重于白白地浪费了体力或精力，通常指具体的、看得见的努力。
“徒劳”通常不能直接用来形容人，而是用来形容人的行为、努力或尝试。例如，可以说“他的努力是徒劳的”，但不能说“他是一个徒劳的人”。
“徒劳”在口语中可以使用，但相比于“白费力气”或“没用”，它显得更正式和书面化。在日常交流中，人们可能更倾向于使用更直接、口语化的表达，但在强调某项努力的彻底失败时，也会用到“徒劳”。
“徒劳”主要修饰动词或动词短语，如“徒劳地挣扎”、“徒劳地等待”、“徒劳地尝试”。它也可以修饰名词，如“徒劳的努力”、“徒劳的抗争”。
Test Yourself
尽管他付出了巨大的努力，但最终所有的挣扎都显得如此____。
句子描述的是付出努力后却没有任何效果或结果，强调努力的无效性，因此“徒劳”是最佳选择。
选择正确的句子。
“徒劳”修饰的是行为或努力，不能直接修饰人。选项B中“徒劳地等待”表示等待没有结果，使用正确。选项C中“会议的结果是徒劳的”虽然勉强可以说，但不如修饰行为更地道。选项A和D直接修饰人是错误的。
努力 / 都是 / 他的 / 徒劳 / 的
正确的语序是“他的努力”作为主语，“都是徒劳的”作为谓语，表示努力没有效果。
Score: /3
Summary
徒劳 signifies efforts or actions that yield no desired outcome, emphasizing futility and wasted endeavor.
- Effort or action yielding no desired outcome.
- Describes wasted or ineffective attempts.
- Signifies futility and lack of success.
Adverbial Usage
Remember that '徒劳' often functions as an adverb, typically preceding the verb it modifies. For example, '徒劳地' (futilely) + verb.
Formal Tone
While usable in spoken Chinese, '徒劳' carries a more formal or literary tone. In very casual conversations, more colloquial alternatives like '白费力气' might be preferred.
Value of Efficiency
The concept of '徒劳' reflects the strong cultural value placed on efficiency and tangible results in Chinese society. Wasted effort is generally viewed negatively.
Examples
4 of 4他尝试了各种方法来解决问题，但一切努力最终都徒劳无功。
He tried various methods to solve the problem, but all efforts ultimately came to nothing.
面对强大的自然灾害，人类的某些抗争有时显得十分徒劳。
In the face of powerful natural disasters, some human struggles occasionally appear quite futile.
别再徒劳地劝他了，他已经下定决心，谁也改变不了。
Stop trying to persuade him in vain; he's made up his mind, and no one can change it.
这项研究表明，在特定条件下，重复的实验操作是徒劳的，无法得出有效数据。
This research indicates that, under specific conditions, repetitive experimental operations are futile and cannot yield valid data.
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