This page in your language

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

B1 verb 11 min read

白费

baifei

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 白费 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 白费 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you can think of '白费' (báifèi) as 'doing something for nothing.' Even though this is a B1 word, the concept is simple. Imagine you draw a beautiful picture, but then you accidentally spill water on it. All that work was 'for nothing.' In Chinese, we use '白' (bái) to mean 'empty' or 'nothing,' and '费' (fèi) to mean 'spend' or 'use.' So, '白费' is when you spend your time or energy and get nothing back. You might hear people say '白费了' (báifèi le) when they are sad that their work didn't help. It's like saying 'Oh no, it was all for nothing!' Just remember: '白' = white/empty, '费' = spend. Together they mean 'wasted effort.'

As an A2 learner, you can start using '白费' in simple sentences to talk about your daily life. It's most commonly used with the word '力气' (lìqi), which means 'physical strength' or 'effort.' If you try to open a jar and it won't open, you can say '白费力气' (báifèi lìqi) - wasting my strength. You can also use it with '钱' (qián) for money. If you buy a ticket for a movie but then you are too tired to go, that money was '白费了.' A key thing to remember is that '白费' is usually about the *result*. If you work hard but don't pass a test, your studying was '白费.' It's a very useful word for expressing that 'it's a pity' (可惜) because the work didn't lead to a good result.

At the B1 level, you should master the specific objects that '白费' takes and its difference from '浪费' (làngfèi). '白费' is almost always about effort, time, or abstract resources. Common phrases include '白费口舌' (báifèi kǒushé - wasting your breath/words) and '白费心机' (báifèi xīnjī - wasting one's schemes). You should use '白费' when an action has been completed but the goal was not achieved. For example, '我白费了半天劲，他还是不明白' (I wasted a lot of effort for a long time, but he still doesn't understand). Notice how '白费' often takes '了' to show the effort is over and the result is zero. It's a crucial word for expressing frustration in professional and social settings in a natural way.

At the B2 level, you can use '白费' in more complex rhetorical structures and understand its emotional weight. You might use it in the negative to encourage someone: '只要你努力，汗水就不会白费' (As long as you work hard, your sweat won't be in vain). You should also be able to distinguish '白费' from more formal terms like '徒劳' (túláo) or '枉费' (wǎngfèi). '白费' is the standard choice for spoken Chinese and informal writing. You will also encounter it in idioms like '白费功夫' (báifèi gōngfu). At this level, you should be comfortable using it to describe not just physical effort, but also mental energy (心思) and complicated plans (计划). It's about the 'meaninglessness' of an action in a broader context.

For C1 learners, '白费' becomes a tool for nuanced social commentary and literary analysis. You can use it to discuss the futility of certain social policies, historical movements, or philosophical pursuits. You will recognize it in classical-style sentences or as part of more sophisticated four-character expressions. At this level, you understand that '白' functions as an adverbial prefix in many other 'in vain' constructions (like 白干, 白忙, 白等), and '白费' is the most formalized verb among them. You can use it to express irony or deep regret in professional debates or high-level writing. For instance, analyzing how a company's marketing strategy was '白费心机' because they misunderstood the target demographic.

At the C2 level, you have a complete grasp of '白费' and its place within the vast landscape of Chinese synonyms for futility. You can appreciate its use in literature where it might symbolize the existential 'vanity' of human life, similar to the concept of 'vanitas.' You can switch effortlessly between '白费,' '徒劳,' '枉费,' and '虚度' depending on the desired register and poetic rhythm. You understand the historical evolution of the character '白' from 'clear/bright' to 'plain' to 'empty/in vain.' Your usage is flawless, whether you're using it in a colloquial outburst or a refined academic critique of a failed scientific experiment. You can also use it to explain complex cultural concepts where effort is valued but results are not guaranteed.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

白费 in 30 Seconds

白费 (báifèi) means to waste effort, money, or time in a way that yields no result or benefit.
It is commonly used with nouns like 力气 (effort), 功夫 (time), and 口舌 (breath/words).
It differs from 浪费 (làngfèi) because it emphasizes the zero result rather than just excessive use.
It is a B1 level word essential for expressing frustration when plans fail or advice is ignored.

The Chinese word 白费 (báifèi) is a poignant verb that encapsulates the feeling of wasted effort, resources, or time. In its most literal sense, it means to spend or consume (费) for nothing (白). This 'nothingness' is represented by the character '白', which beyond the color white, signifies emptiness, lack of result, or futility in this context. Imagine pouring water into a bucket with a hole at the bottom; every drop is báifèi. It is a B1 level word, essential for expressing frustration, giving advice, or reflecting on failed endeavors.

Core Concept: The expenditure of energy or money that results in zero benefit or the desired outcome not being achieved.
Emotional Nuance: It often carries a tone of regret, annoyance, or pragmatic realization. It is not just about the loss, but the 'uselessness' of the action taken.
Common Objects: It is frequently paired with abstract nouns like 力气 (lìqi - effort), 心机 (xīnjī - scheming/thinking), 口舌 (kǒushé - words/persuasion), and 功夫 (gōngfu - time/effort).

要是他不听你的，你就别白费口舌了。 (If he won't listen to you, then don't waste your breath.)

In daily life, you will hear this word when plans fall through. For example, if you spent all night cooking a gourmet meal for a friend who then cancels at the last minute, you might sigh and say, "我白费了这么多功夫" (I wasted all this effort). It is distinct from simply 'losing' something; it is about the 'act of doing' being rendered meaningless. It is also used in a preventative sense, warning others not to bother with a task that is destined to fail.

所有的努力都白费了。 (All the efforts have been in vain.)

Culturally, Chinese speakers value 'efficiency' and 'meaningful action.' Therefore, calling something '白费' is a strong critique. It suggests a lack of foresight or a situation beyond one's control that has nullified human endeavor. In business, it describes investments that yield no ROI. In relationships, it describes unrequited affection or advice that goes unheeded.

别在那儿白费劲了，这台机器已经坏透了。 (Don't waste your energy there; this machine is completely broken.)

Synonym Contrast: Compared to 浪费 (làngfèi), '白费' is more focused on the *result* being zero, whereas '浪费' is about the *misuse* of resources. You '浪费' water by leaving the tap on, but your work is '白费' if the project is cancelled.

他为了这个计划筹备了半年，结果因为资金断裂，全部白费。 (He prepared for this plan for half a year, but because the funding was cut, it was all for nothing.)

Understanding '白费' helps you navigate the practical side of Chinese communication. It allows you to express sympathy for someone's lost work or to be direct about the futility of a current path. It is a word that bridges the gap between simple vocabulary and the nuanced expression of human frustration.

Using 白费 (báifèi) correctly requires understanding its grammatical flexibility as both a transitive verb (taking an object) and an intransitive verb (standing alone with a subject). It primarily appears in contexts where an action has failed to produce its intended effect.

Pattern 1: Subject + 白费了: This is used when the subject (usually an effort or time) has already been spent and resulted in nothing. Example: '我的心血都白费了' (My life's work/blood and sweat has all gone to waste).

这次考试我复习了很久，但因为迟到没能参加，真是白费了。 (I reviewed for a long time for this exam, but because I was late and couldn't take it, it was truly a waste.)

Pattern 2: 白费 + Noun (Object): The verb directly takes the resource being wasted as an object. Common objects include 力气 (effort), 钱 (money), 功夫 (time/effort), 心机 (scheming). Example: '别白费力气了' (Don't waste your strength).

你跟他解释也没用，只会白费口舌。 (Explaining to him is useless; you'll only be wasting your breath.)

It is important to note that '白费' is often used with the adverb '全' (quán - entirely) or '都' (dōu - all) to emphasize the total nature of the waste. When you say '全白费了,' it conveys a deep sense of total loss. This is very common in spoken Chinese when expressing extreme disappointment.

大雨把刚种下的花都冲走了，我们的辛劳全白费了。 (The heavy rain washed away the flowers we just planted; our hard work was entirely in vain.)

In more formal or written contexts, '白费' can be part of four-character idioms or more complex structures. However, at the B1 level, mastering the '白费 + [Effort Noun]' structure is the priority. It is also frequently used in the negative to encourage someone: '你的努力不会白费的' (Your efforts will not be in vain).

只要坚持下去，你的汗水绝不会白费。 (As long as you persist, your sweat will definitely not be in vain.)

Comparison with 徒劳 (túláo): '徒劳' is a more formal, literary synonym. While you might say '白费' in a conversation with a friend, you would see '徒劳无功' (túláo wúgōng - to work hard to no avail) in a newspaper or book.

如果你不改变方法，再怎么努力也是白费。 (If you don't change your method, no matter how hard you try, it will be in vain.)

In summary, '白费' is your go-to word for the 'fruitless effort' scenario. Use it with '了' for the past, or as a warning for the future. It is a versatile tool for describing the gap between expectation and reality.

You will encounter 白费 (báifèi) in a wide variety of social and professional settings in China. It is a word that resonates with the universal human experience of disappointment. From the bustling offices of Shanghai to the quiet dinner tables of rural villages, the concept of 'fruitless effort' is a frequent topic of conversation.

In the Workplace: Employees often use it when a project they've worked on for months is suddenly shelved by management. You might hear: '熬了这么多夜，结果项目取消了，真是白费劲！' (Stayed up so many nights, and the project got cancelled—what a waste of energy!)

老板不认可这个方案，我们这周的加班都白费了。 (The boss doesn't approve of this plan; our overtime this week was all for nothing.)

In family dynamics, parents often use '白费' when their children ignore their well-intentioned advice or when they feel their sacrifices aren't being appreciated. A mother might say, '我白费了这么多心思给你准备生日，你却不回来吃饭。' (I wasted so much thought preparing your birthday, but you didn't even come home to eat.) This usage carries a heavy emotional weight, often indicating a sense of hurt or unreciprocated care.

我跟你说了这么多，简直是白费口舌。 (I've said so much to you, it's simply a waste of breath.)

On TV and in movies, '白费' is a staple in dramatic confrontations. Villains might mock heroes by saying their resistance is '白费心机' (a waste of scheming). Conversely, a tragic hero might lament that their life's mission was '白费了'. It adds a layer of fatalism and drama to the dialogue.

别再挣扎了，一切都是白费。 (Stop struggling; everything is in vain.)

Educational Settings: Teachers use it to warn students about inefficient study habits. '如果你不理解原理只靠死记硬背，那也是白费功夫。' (If you don't understand the principles and just rely on rote memorization, that's also a waste of time.)

要是方向错了，再多的努力也是白费。 (If the direction is wrong, no amount of effort will help.)

Whether it's the frustration of a broken machine, a failed relationship, or a rejected proposal, '白费' is the linguistic container for that feeling. Hearing it helps you identify the speaker's assessment of a situation's utility—or lack thereof.

While 白费 (báifèi) is a common word, its specific nuances can lead to several types of errors for English speakers. Understanding these pitfalls will help you sound more like a native speaker.

Mistake 1: Confusing '白费' with '浪费': This is the most frequent error. '浪费' (làngfèi) is 'to waste' in a general sense—usually resources like water, food, or electricity that are used excessively. '白费' is specifically about effort or resources that yield no result. You wouldn't say '白费水' (waste water), but you would say '浪费水'.

❌ 别白费食物。 (Don't waste food.)
✅ 别浪费食物。

Mistake 2: Confusing '白费' with '免费': Because '白' can mean 'for free' in some contexts (like '白吃' - to eat for free), learners sometimes think '白费' means 'free of charge.' It absolutely does not. '免费' (miǎnfèi) is the word for 'free of charge.'

❌ 这张票是白费的。 (This ticket is 'waste'.)
✅ 这张票是免费的。 (This ticket is free.)

Another mistake involves the placement of the word. '白费' is usually a verb. Some learners try to use it as an adjective before a noun without the proper structure. For example, '白费的努力' (wasted effort) is grammatically possible, but it's much more natural to say '努力都白费了' (the effort was all wasted).

Mistake 3: Using '白费' for people: You cannot call a person a '白费.' In English, you might call someone a 'waste of space,' but in Chinese, '白费' is applied to the actions or efforts of people, not the people themselves. If you want to say someone is useless, you might use '没用' (méiyòng) or '废人' (fèirén - very harsh slang).

❌ 他是个白费。 (He is a waste.)
✅ 他这辈子都白费了。 (His life has been wasted - implying his efforts in life came to nothing.)

Finally, watch out for the intensity. '白费' is quite strong. If someone makes a small mistake that requires a little extra work, '白费' might sound too dramatic. It is best reserved for situations where a significant amount of effort has truly resulted in nothing.

By avoiding these common errors, you'll use '白费' with the precision of a native speaker, accurately conveying the specific type of frustration that comes from futile labor.

In Chinese, there are several ways to express the idea of 'waste' or 'futility.' Choosing the right one depends on the level of formality and the specific nuance you want to convey. Here is a comparison of 白费 (báifèi) with its closest relatives.

1. 浪费 (làngfèi): Definition: To waste; to squander.
Difference: '浪费' is the broad term for misuse of resources (time, money, food). '白费' is specifically about effort that results in nothing. You can '浪费' money on a luxury you don't need, but you '白费' money on a machine that never works.

别浪费时间看那种无聊的电影。 (Don't waste time watching that boring movie.)

2. 徒劳 (túláo): Definition: Futile; in vain.
Difference: '徒劳' is much more formal and literary. It is often used in the idiom '徒劳无功' (to work in vain). While '白费' is common in speech, '徒劳' is common in writing.

一切抵抗都是徒劳的。 (All resistance is futile.)

3. 枉费 (wǎngfèi): Definition: To waste in vain.
Difference: '枉费' is slightly more formal than '白费' and often implies that the waste was particularly regrettable or unfair. It is commonly paired with '心机' (scheming) or '心思' (thought/care).

真是枉费了我的一番苦心。 (It really wasted my painstaking efforts.)

4. 瞎忙 (xiāmáng): Definition: To be busy for nothing; to be pointlessly busy.
Difference: This is a very colloquial term. It implies the person is doing a lot of things but without a clear plan or result. '白费' describes the result, while '瞎忙' describes the state of the person doing the work.

你整天在瞎忙什么呢？ (What are you pointlessly busy with all day?)

By learning these alternatives, you can tailor your Chinese to the situation. Whether you are writing a formal report or complaining to a friend, you will have the right word to describe the frustration of wasted energy.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The character '白' is one of the most versatile in Chinese. It can mean white, clear, plain, in vain, for free, or even to stare coldly (白眼). In '白费,' it specifically utilizes the 'in vain' meaning which dates back to classical Chinese texts.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /baɪ feɪ/

US /baɪ feɪ/

The second syllable 'fèi' often carries more emphasis as it is the fourth tone and marks the action of spending.

Rhymes With

排队 (páiduì) 反馈 (fǎnkuì) 海水 (hǎishuǐ - partial) 来回 (láihuí - partial) 安慰 (ānwèi) 花费 (huāfèi) 免费 (miǎnfèi) 学费 (xuéfèi)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'bái' with a flat first tone.
Pronouncing 'fèi' as 'fěi' (third tone).
Confusing the 'ei' sound with 'ie'.
Aspirating the 'b' too heavily like a 'p'.
Dragging out the tones too long.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

The characters are relatively common, but the 'white' meaning 'in vain' nuance must be learned.

Writing 4/5

Writing '费' (fèi) can be tricky due to the number of strokes and the '贝' radical.

Speaking 2/5

Tones are clear and it's a very satisfying word to say when frustrated.

Listening 3/5

Can be confused with '免费' (miǎnfèi) if the first syllable isn't heard clearly.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

白 (bái) 费 (fèi) 浪费 (làngfèi) 力气 (lìqi) 功夫 (gōngfu)

Learn Next

徒劳 (túláo) 可惜 (kěxī) 效率 (xiàolǜ) 成果 (chéngguǒ)

Advanced

枉费心机 (wǎngfèi xīnjī) 付诸东流 (fùzhū dōngliú) 竹篮打水 (zhúlán dǎshuǐ)

Grammar to Know

The adverbial use of '白'

他白跑了一趟。 (He made a trip for nothing.)

Resultative verbs with '了'

我的心血白费了。 (My life's work has been wasted.)

Verb-Object compounds

白费力气 (Waste effort) - '力气' is the object.

Negative '没有' with resultatives

努力没有白费。 (Effort was not in vain.)

Using '都' for emphasis

全都白费了。 (All was completely in vain.)

Examples by Level

我的努力白费了。

My effort was for nothing.

Subject + 白费 + 了

别白费力气。

Don't waste your strength.

Imperative: 别 + 白费 + noun

那笔钱白费了。

That money was wasted.

Noun + 白费 + 了

白费了我的时间。

Wasted my time.

Verb + Object

这个工作白费了。

This work was for nothing.

Simple sentence

不要白费功夫。

Don't waste time/effort.

Negative imperative

全白费了！

It was all for nothing!

全 (entirely) + 白费 + 了

他的话白费了。

His words were in vain.

Noun + 白费

我白费了半天劲，门还是打不开。

I wasted a lot of effort for a long time, but the door still won't open.

白费 + duration + noun

如果你不听话，我的建议就白费了。

If you don't listen, my advice will be in vain.

Conditional structure

别在那儿白费力气了，快休息吧。

Stop wasting your strength there, go rest.

别...了 (Stop doing...)

这三年的努力没有白费。

These three years of effort were not in vain.

Negative: 没有 + 白费

他白费了这么多钱买这个破车。

He wasted so much money buying this broken car.

白费 + amount + 钱

我们白费了两个小时等他。

We wasted two hours waiting for him.

白费 + duration

因为下雨，我们的准备都白费了。

Because of the rain, our preparations were all for nothing.

Cause + Result

我不想白费口舌跟你争论。

I don't want to waste my breath arguing with you.

不想 + 白费口舌

要是他不改掉坏习惯，你的帮助也是白费。

If he doesn't change his bad habits, your help will also be in vain.

也是 (is also) + 白费

为了这个项目，我们白费了多少心机啊！

For this project, how much scheming/thought we have wasted!

Exclamatory: 多少...啊

你这么做完全是白费功夫。

Doing it this way is completely a waste of time.

完全是 (is completely)

他觉得以前的教育都白费了。

He feels that his previous education was all for nothing.

Noun + 都 + 白费了

别再白费心机去讨好他了。

Stop wasting your thoughts trying to please him.

白费心机 + verb phrase

如果我们不合作，所有的资源都会白费。

If we don't cooperate, all resources will be wasted.

都会 (will all)

虽然结果不好，但也不算白费。

Although the result wasn't good, it wasn't a total waste.

不算 (doesn't count as)

我跟他讲了半天道理，全是白费口舌。

I talked sense to him for a long time, but it was all wasting my breath.

全是 (is all)

与其在这里白费力气，不如换个思路。

Rather than wasting energy here, why not change your thinking?

与其...不如... (Rather than... better to...)

所有的解释在事实面前都是白费。

All explanations are in vain in the face of facts.

Abstract subject + 都是白费

他的一番苦心最终还是白费了。

His painstaking efforts were ultimately in vain.

最终还是 (ultimately still)

如果你不努力，老师再怎么教也是白费。

If you don't work hard, no matter how the teacher teaches, it's in vain.

再怎么...也... (No matter how... still...)

这种毫无意义的争论只会白费大家的时间。

This meaningless argument will only waste everyone's time.

只会 + 白费

他为了赢得比赛付出了很多，却因为受伤白费了。

He gave a lot to win the race, but it was in vain because of an injury.

Complex sentence with 'yet' (却)

我们绝不能让先辈的牺牲白费。

We must never let the sacrifices of our ancestors be in vain.

让 + Noun + 白费 (Causative)

再多的金钱也买不回白费的青春。

No amount of money can buy back wasted youth.

白费 as an adjective modifying a noun

这项政策如果没有执行力，那也只是白费纸墨。

If this policy has no enforcement power, it is just a waste of paper and ink.

Metaphorical usage: 白费纸墨

他试图掩盖真相，但那不过是白费心机罢了。

He tried to cover up the truth, but that was merely a waste of scheming.

不过是...罢了 (is merely... and that's all)

历史证明，违背民意的举措终将白费。

History proves that measures against the will of the people will eventually be in vain.

Formal/Academic tone

在这个关键时刻，任何犹豫都会让之前的铺垫白费。

At this critical moment, any hesitation will make previous preparations go to waste.

让...白费 (Causative structure)

由于缺乏长远规划，这些短期的投入大多白费了。

Due to a lack of long-term planning, most of these short-term investments were wasted.

Formal business context

他这番慷慨陈词，在那些冷漠的人听来，简直是白费口舌。

His impassioned speech, to those indifferent people, was simply a waste of breath.

Complex sentence with prepositional phrases

无论你怎么修饰，也掩盖不了这白费的一生。

No matter how you embellish it, you cannot hide this wasted life.

Literary tone

既然已经无法挽回，就别再白费心思去纠结了。

Since it's already irreparable, don't waste any more thought dwelling on it.

既然...就... (Since... then...)

若无真才实学，空有凌云壮志也终究是白费。

Without true talent and learning, having high ambitions is ultimately in vain.

Classical/Literary structure

这种对过往的无谓祭奠，不过是在白费当下的光阴。

This pointless commemoration of the past is merely wasting the present time.

Philosophical usage

纵使他才华横溢，若生不逢时，也难免落个白费的下场。

Even if he is exceptionally talented, if he is born at the wrong time, it's hard to avoid a wasted end.

纵使...也... (Even if... still...)

在浩瀚的宇宙面前，人类的某些挣扎显得如此白费而又悲壮。

In the face of the vast universe, some of humanity's struggles seem so futile yet heroic.

High-level descriptive usage

我们应当反思，那些看似繁荣的投入是否真的只是在白费公帑。

We should reflect on whether those seemingly prosperous investments are truly just wasting public funds.

Political/Economic critique

他倾注了一生的心血，却在晚年发现一切皆是白费，这种打击是致命的。

He poured his life's blood into it, only to find in his old age that everything was in vain; such a blow is fatal.

Narrative depth

与其说是他在白费功夫，倒不如说他在用这种方式对抗虚无。

Rather than saying he is wasting time, it's better to say he is using this method to combat nihilism.

与其说是...不如说... (Rather than saying... it's more like...)

这白费的一笔，竟成了整幅画作中最令人唏嘘的神来之笔。

This 'wasted' stroke actually became the most sigh-inducing stroke of genius in the entire painting.

Ironical/Artistic usage

Common Collocations

白费力气

白费功夫

白费口舌

白费心机

白费心思

白费钱

全白费了

不会白费

简直是白费

白费劲

Common Phrases

白费一场

— A whole endeavor coming to nothing.

忙活了半天，结果白费一场。

白费唾沫

— Wasting saliva (same as wasting breath).

我这是白费唾沫，你爱听不听。

白费周折

— Wasting a lot of complications or roundabout efforts.

早知道这样，就不白费周折了。

白费笔墨

— Wasting ink/writing (writing something that has no effect).

给这种人写信是白费笔墨。

白费心血

— Wasting one's life's blood/painstaking effort.

老师的白费心血让他感到愧疚。

白费力

— Short for 白费力气.

别白费力了。

白费蜡

— A dialect/slang expression meaning wasting effort (literally wasting wax/candles).

你这么做真是白费蜡。

白费精神

— Wasting mental energy or spirit.

为了这种小事白费精神不值得。

白费脑筋

— Wasting one's brains/thinking hard for nothing.

别白费脑筋想那个难题了。

白费眼泪

— Wasting tears (crying for someone who doesn't care).

为他这种人白费眼泪不值。

Often Confused With

白费 vs 浪费 (làngfèi)

Waste of resources/excessive use vs. waste of effort/zero result.

白费 vs 免费 (miǎnfèi)

Free of charge vs. wasted effort. They sound similar.

白费 vs 废弃 (fèiqì)

To discard something physical vs. the act of wasting effort.

Idioms & Expressions

"徒劳无功"

— To make a futile effort; to work hard in vain.

没有计划的行动往往徒劳无功。

Formal

"劳而无功"

— To work hard but achieve nothing.

如果方法不对，只会劳而无功。

Formal

"枉费心机"

— To waste one's calculating/scheming in vain.

他想通过作弊赢，结果是枉费心机。

Neutral

"白忙一场"

— To be busy for a while only to have it all be for nothing.

最后项目被取消了，大家白忙一场。

Colloquial

"水中捞月"

— To fish for the moon in the water (a metaphor for a futile effort).

你想一夜暴富，简直是水中捞月。

Literary

"竹篮打水"

— Using a bamboo basket to draw water (everything leaks out; a total waste).

如果不注意细节，最后只能是竹篮打水一场空。

Colloquial/Idiomatic

"对牛弹琴"

— To play the lute to a cow (wasting words on someone who can't understand).

跟他谈艺术简直是对牛弹琴，白费口舌。

Neutral/Common

"缘木求鱼"

— To climb a tree to catch fish (a wrong approach that leads to futility).

不用功却想考高分，无异于缘木求鱼。

Literary

"白费心血"

— To waste one's most sincere and hard efforts.

父母的白费心血让他很痛苦。

Emotive

"付诸东流"

— To be cast into the eastern flowing river (all efforts gone forever).

十年的积蓄就这样付诸东流了。

Literary

Easily Confused

白费 vs 免费

Both start with 'miǎn/bái' which can both mean 'for free' in different contexts.

免费 means zero cost for a product. 白费 means zero result for an effort.

这个软件是免费的，所以你不用白费钱去买别的。

白费 vs 浪费

Both translate to 'waste' in English.

浪费 is for using too much of something (water, time). 白费 is for when the total outcome is zero.

你浪费了这么多水，我的打扫工作都白费了。

白费 vs 废话

Both contain the character '费/废' and relate to uselessness.

废话 is a noun meaning 'nonsense.' 白费 is a verb meaning 'to waste.'

别说废话了，那只会白费大家的时间。

白费 vs 徒劳

They are synonyms.

徒劳 is formal/written. 白费 is common/spoken.

在书里写‘徒劳无功’，在家里说‘白费力气’。

白费 vs 白吃

Both start with '白'.

白吃 means to eat for free. 白费 means to waste.

他想白吃白喝，真是白费心机。

Sentence Patterns

Noun + 白费了。

努力白费了。

别 + 白费 + Noun + 了。

别白费力气了。

白费了 + Duration + 功夫。

白费了半天功夫。

Subject + 也是 + 白费。

你再怎么说也是白费。

让...白费

不要让大家的努力白费。

与其...不如...白费

与其白费口舌，不如直接行动。

不过是...白费...罢了

那不过是白费心机罢了。

终究/难免 + 白费

缺乏基础的建筑终究会白费。

Word Family

Nouns

费用 (fèiyòng - expenses)

废品 (fèipǐn - waste product)

废话 (fèihuà - nonsense)

Verbs

浪费 (làngfèi - to waste)

花费 (huāfèi - to spend)

消费 (xiāofèi - to consume)

付费 (fùfèi - to pay fees)

Adjectives

废旧 (fèijiù - old and useless)

废弃 (fèiqì - abandoned)

徒劳 (túláo)

免费 (miǎnfèi)

自费 (zìfèi)

耗费 (hàofèi)

枉费 (wǎngfèi)

How to Use It

frequency

Very high in both spoken and written Chinese.

Common Mistakes

Using '白费' for food waste. → 浪费食物
Food is a physical resource. '白费' is for abstract effort or money spent on a failed result.
Saying '白费的钱' instead of '白费钱' or '钱白费了'. → 钱白费了
While grammatically okay, '钱白费了' is much more natural in speech.
Confusing '白费' with '免费'. → 这张票是免费的。
Don't confuse 'waste' with 'free.' '免费' is for no cost.
Using '白费' to describe a lazy person. → 他很懒 / 他没用
'白费' describes actions, not people's character traits.
Forgetting the '了' in past contexts. → 我的功夫都白费了。
Since 'waste' is usually a completed state, '了' is almost always needed.

Tips

Pair with '功夫'

If you are unsure which noun to use, '功夫' (gōngfu) is a safe bet for any time or effort wasted. '白费功夫' is extremely common.

Use with '都'

To sound more natural, add '都' (dōu) before '白费.' For example: '我的努力都白费了.' This adds the necessary emphasis.

Learn '白' as a prefix

Remember that '白' + Verb = 'Action done in vain.' Knowing this helps you understand words like 白等 (wait for nothing) and 白跑 (go for nothing).

Emotional tone

When complaining, elongate the 'bái' slightly to show your frustration. 'Báaaaai fèi le!'

Encouragement

Use '不会白费' to motivate your Chinese friends. It’s a very common and appreciated sentiment.

Vs. 浪费

If there is still *some* result, use 浪费. If there is *zero* result, use 白费.

Four-character phrases

In formal writing, try to use '徒劳无功' instead of '白费' to show a higher level of literacy.

Tone recognition

Focus on the falling 4th tone of 'fèi.' It sounds very decisive and final.

Contextual clues

If you see '白' followed by a verb and then '了,' it almost always means the action was a failure.

The 'White' logic

Associate 'White' with a 'Blank result.' Blank = Nothing = In vain.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a WHITE (白) sheet of paper where you spent hours writing with invisible ink. You SPENT (费) all that time, but the paper is still 'white' (empty). That is 白费.

Visual Association

A person pouring a bag of gold coins into a bottomless white hole. The coins are 'spent' (费) but the hole remains 'white/empty' (白).

Word Web

力气 (Effort) 功夫 (Time) 口舌 (Words) 心机 (Schemes) 钱 (Money) 心思 (Thought) 时间 (Time) 感情 (Feelings)

Challenge

Try to use '白费' in three different sentences today: one about a cancelled plan, one about advice someone ignored, and one about a physical effort that failed.

Word Origin

The character '白' (bái) originally depicted a sun or a grain of rice, symbolizing 'white' or 'clear.' Over time, it developed the meaning of 'plain' or 'empty,' and eventually 'in vain.' The character '费' (fèi) combines '贝' (bèi - shell/money) and a phonetic component, meaning to spend money or resources.

Original meaning: To spend resources for no result.

Sino-Tibetan

Cultural Context

Be careful when telling someone their effort was '白费.' It can be very discouraging or sound like a harsh criticism of their ability.

English speakers often say 'it was all for naught' or 'a waste of breath.' '白费' covers both of these in one common verb.

The idiom '竹篮打水一场空' is the most famous cultural cousin to '白费'. Commonly heard in 'C-Dramas' when a character's secret plan is discovered. Used in many Chinese pop songs to describe unrequited love (e.g., '白费心机').

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Failed Plans

计划白费了
准备白费了
努力白费了
一切都白费了

Giving Advice

别白费力气
别白费口舌
不要白费功夫
省点力气吧

Financial Loss

钱白费了
白费钱
投资白费了
白花钱

Encouragement

不会白费的
汗水不会白费
努力没有白费
一定会成功的

Professional Frustration

项目白费了
加班白费了
方案白费了
白忙了一场

Conversation Starters

"你有没有过努力了很久却白费了的经历？"

"你觉得做什么事情最容易白费口舌？"

"当你的努力白费时，你通常会怎么安慰自己？"

"在工作中，什么情况会让你觉得是在白费功夫？"

"你认为现在的教育制度会让学生的努力白费吗？"

Journal Prompts

写一次你觉得自己的努力完全白费了的经历。当时发生了什么？你有什么感受？

讨论一下‘失败的努力是否真的是白费’。即使没有结果，我们能学到什么？

描述一个你曾经白费口舌劝说某人的场景。为什么他不听你的？

如果你发现一个项目注定会白费，你会选择继续还是放弃？为什么？

写一封信给未来的自己，告诉自己无论结果如何，汗水都不会白费。

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, but '浪费时间' is much more common. '白费时间' implies that the time spent resulted in absolutely nothing, whereas '浪费时间' just means you used your time poorly (like watching a bad movie).

It can be. Telling someone '你在白费力气' (You are wasting your energy) can be seen as dismissive of their efforts. Use it carefully when speaking to others.

They are almost identical. '白费劲' (báifèijìn) is slightly more colloquial and common in Northern China. Both mean wasting effort.

Yes, '白费钱' is common. It means you spent money on something that was useless or didn't work. For example, buying a broken tool.

You can say '全白费了' (Quán báifèile) or '白费一场' (Báifèi yī chǎng).

Yes, as in '白费的努力' (wasted effort), but it's more common to use it as a verb phrase: '努力都白费了'.

Usually in the negative: '你的努力不会白费' (Your efforts won't be in vain). This is a common way to encourage someone.

It literally means 'wasting mouth and tongue.' It's the equivalent of 'wasting your breath' or 'talking to a brick wall.'

No. You don't call a person 'a waste' using '白费.' You apply it to their life or their actions: '他这辈子白费了' (His life was wasted).

Yes, it functions like one, often taking '了' to show that the 'spending' has resulted in 'nothingness.'