How to say “wasted effort” in Chinese with 白 (bái)
白 (bái) + Verb Phrase
Expressing wasted efforts with "白 (bái)"
白 (bái) + Verb Phrase
HSK 5AdverbsExpressing wasted efforts with "白 (bái)"
Rule structure
白 (bái) is an adverb meaning "in vain, for nothing, to no avail". It indicates that an action was done but yielded no result or benefit.
Rule structure
白 (bái) is an adverb meaning "in vain, for nothing, to no avail". It indicates that an action was done but yielded no result or benefit.
Examples
他白跑了一趟，人不在。
Tā bái pǎo le yī tàng, rén bù zài.
He made a wasted trip; the person wasn’t there.
Examples
他白跑了一趟，人不在。
Tā bái pǎo le yī tàng, rén bù zài.
He made a wasted trip; the person wasn’t there.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you express “Expressing wasted efforts with "白 (bái)"” in Chinese?
Use the structure: 白 (bái) + Verb Phrase. For example: 他白跑了一趟，人不在。 — “He made a wasted trip; the person wasn’t there.”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
他白跑了一趟，人不在。 — “He made a wasted trip; the person wasn’t there.”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 5.
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