futility
/fjuːˈtɪləti/ (bre, ipa) · /fjuːˈtɪləti/ (ame, ipa) · /fyü-ˈti-lə-tē/ (ame, mw)
futility — 名詞
1. the condition of being useless because an action cannot bring the result you wan
徒勞
努力也改變不了結果的無用感
the condition of being useless because an action cannot bring the result you want.
After three hours at the broken machine, Omar finally saw the futility of waiting.
Omar 對著那台壞掉的機器忙了三個鐘頭後，終於看出繼續等下去有多徒勞。
the futility of + -ing
Ritu laughed at the futility of sweeping leaves across the windy playground.
Ritu 笑說，在有風的操場上掃落葉實在很徒勞。
The farmers spoke about the futility of planting rice before the river returned.
農夫們談到，在河水回來前種稻有多麼徒勞。
Bao felt the futility of arguing once the judge had signed the order.
法官一簽下命令，Bao 就感到再爭辯也是徒勞。
There was obvious futility in chasing the bus after it turned the corner.
公車一轉過街角後，還去追它顯然很徒勞。
- pointlessness
a broader everyday noun for something with no value or purpose
- uselessness
focuses more generally on not being helpful or effective
- hopelessness
focuses on the feeling that success is impossible, not the action itself
- usefulness
focuses on something having a practical effect
- effectiveness
focuses on producing the intended result
文法句型
the futility of + noun/-ing
futility in + noun/-ing
用法筆記
Usually appears in phrases like the futility of ... or futility in .... It is common when a speaker judges that more effort cannot change the outcome.