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徒劳无益

tú láo wú yìdictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
futile endeavor (idiom)
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-a2879bda2842451e. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

徒勞無益 徒劳无益 [tu2 lao2 wu2 yi4] /futile endeavor (idiom)/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

Other forms in these source records: 徒勞無益

  • 徒
    tú

    (bound form) disciple / apprentice / believer / (derog.) wrongdoer (as in 騙徒|骗徒[piàn tú] "swindler" or 叛徒[pàn tú] "traitor" etc) / (bound form) on foot / (bound form) bare / empty / (bound form) to no avail / in vain / (bound form) merely / just / only / (bound form) prison sentence

    Tú

    surname Tu

  • 劳
    láo

    (bound form) to toil / labor / (bound form) laborer / (bound form) meritorious deed / (bound form) fatigue / to put sb to the trouble (of doing sth) / (bound form) to express appreciation for sb's efforts (Taiwan pr. [lào])

    Láo

    surname Lao

  • 无
    mó

    used in 南無|南无[nā mó]

    wú

    not to have / no / none / not / to lack / un- / -less

  • 益
    yì

    benefit / profit / advantage / beneficial / to increase / to add / all the more

    Yì

    surname Yi

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.