empty-handed
/ˌempti ˈhændɪd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌempti ˈhændɪd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌem(p)-tē-ˈhan-dəd/ (ame, mw)
empty-handed — 形容詞
1. having brought nothing with you, especially to a social event or when returning
空手
雙手沒帶任何東西
having brought nothing with you, especially to a social event or when returning from a place where you could have taken something
Wei showed up at the birthday party empty-handed, having forgotten to buy a gift.
Wei 空手出席生日派對，因為忘記買禮物。
show up + empty-handed (social occasion)
The security guard watched a teenager leave the electronics store empty-handed.
警衛看著一名青少年空手離開電器行。
Priya arrived empty-handed at the dinner, though her friend brought a bottle of wine.
Priya 空手前來赴宴，不過她朋友帶了一瓶酒。
Omar came home from the supermarket empty-handed, having forgotten his shopping bags.
Omar 忘記帶購物袋，空手從超市回家。
Yuki walked through the farmers' market empty-handed, just enjoying the fresh air.
Yuki 空手走過農夫市集，只是享受新鮮空氣。
- bare-handed
more physical, often suggesting manual labour without tools or gloves
- with nothing
less concise; used in less formal speech
文法句型
empty-handed after verb of motion
用法筆記
Commonly used with motion verbs such as show up, arrive, leave, come, go, return, and walk. Typically describes a concrete, physical situation where you bring nothing with you.
常見錯誤
2. not having obtained something that you tried to get, for example a job, a contra
一無所獲
努力後未能得到想要的
not having obtained something that you tried to get, for example a job, a contract, or a prize
Aisha went to three job interviews last month but came home empty-handed.
Aisha 上個月去了三場工作面試，但都空手而歸。
come home empty-handed after effort
The treasure hunters dug all morning in the rain but ended up empty-handed.
尋寶者在雨中挖了一整個早上，最後一無所獲。
end up empty-handed after search
Lin tried to get a refund from the airline but walked away empty-handed.
Lin 試圖向航空公司要求退款，但空手而歸。
After searching the ruins for days, the rescue team returned empty-handed.
在廢墟中搜尋數日之後，救援隊空手而回。
Sofia applied for five research grants but finished the year empty-handed.
Sofia 申請了五筆研究補助，但年底時一無所獲。
- unsuccessful
broader register; used in any failure context, formal or informal
- fruitless
more formal and literary; describes the effort itself rather than the person
- successful
having achieved what you aimed for
- victorious
stronger, suggesting a clear win over competition
文法句型
empty-handed after effort verb
用法筆記
Frequently appears after verbs describing sustained effort: end up, come up, walk away, finish, return. Often interchangeable with 'without success' but adds a slightly more vivid, disappointed tone.