Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Useless, futile, in vain: Describes an action, effort, or thing that produces no useful result, benefit, or desired outcome. It emphasizes the lack of effectiveness or purpose.

Usage

• vô ích is used to describe situations, attempts, or objects that are pointless or yield no positive effect.
• It often follows verbs like là (to be), trở nên (to become), or thật là (it is truly).
• It can be used before a noun (e.g., ) or stand alone as a predicate adjective.

Usage Examples

• As an adjective:
  • Mọi nỗ lực của anh ấy đều vô ích. (All of his efforts were in vain.)
  • Thật là vô ích khi cố thuyết phục một người không muốn nghe. (It is truly futile to try to persuade someone who doesn't want to listen.)
  • Đừng phí thời gian vào những việc vô ích. (Don't waste time on useless things.)

Advanced Usage

• "Cố gắng vô ích": A futile attempt; a useless effort.
  • Đó là một cố gắng vô ích. (That was a futile attempt.)
• "hoàn toàn vô ích": Completely useless; utterly futile.
  • Lời khuyên của tôi dường như hoàn toàn vô ích. (My advice seems completely useless.)

Variants and Related Words

• Vô dụng (adj): Useless, good-for-nothing. (Often implies a lack of function or capability in a person or object, whereas focuses more on the lack of result from an action.)
• Vô bổ (adj): Unprofitable, unbeneficial. (Similar to , often used for activities that offer no gain or nourishment, e.g., - an unproductive conversation).

Synonyms

• Không có kết quả: Without result.
• Phí hoài: Wasted, in vain.
• Vô hiệu quả: Ineffective.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

(Note: As an adjective, *vô ích does not form phrasal verbs. It is commonly used in set phrases with verbs.)* - làm việc gì đó một cách vô ích: to do something in a useless/futile manner. - Anh ấy đang cố gắng một cách vô ích. (He is trying in vain.)

Related Idioms

• Công dã tràng: (Lit: Sand crab's work) Sisyphean task; futile labor. This idiom conveys a stronger sense of endless, repetitive, and ultimately pointless effort.
  • Dọn lá rụng mùa thu giống như công dã tràng. (Raking autumn leaves is like a Sisyphean task.)
• Đá nước đổ đầu vịt: (Lit: To pour water on a duck's head) Preaching to deaf ears; a futile action that has no impact.
  • Nói với nó chỉ là đá nước đổ đầu vịt. (Talking to him is just preaching to deaf ears.)

adj

1. useless