uselessness
/ˈjuːsləsnəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈjuːsləsnəs/ (ame, ipa)
uselessness — 名詞
1. the condition of being completely without value, purpose, or practical use; the
無用；沒用
毫無實用價值或功能
the condition of being completely without value, purpose, or practical use; the fact that something cannot do what it needs to do or achieve a useful result.
Camille finally accepted the uselessness of the old map after getting lost three times.
Camille 迷路了三次之後，終於接受了那張舊地圖的無用。
the uselessness of + noun phrase
The government report highlighted the uselessness of the current recycling program in the city.
政府的報告凸顯了現行都市回收計畫的無用。
Quan felt frustrated by the uselessness of the broken printer that nobody would replace.
Quan 因為那臺沒人願意換的壞印表機毫無用處而感到沮喪。
The uselessness of the emergency plan became clear when the flood arrived without warning.
那套緊急計畫的無用在洪水毫無預警地來襲時顯露無遺。
After two hours, Henry admitted the uselessness of trying to fix the old car.
Henry 花了兩個小時後，承認嘗試修好那輛老車是徒勞的。
The spare key turned out to be a study in uselessness because the owner had changed the locks.
那把備用鑰匙成了「無用」的完美教材，因為主人已經換過鎖了。
A paper umbrella offers total uselessness in a storm this strong.
紙傘在這麼強的暴風雨裡完全毫無用處。
All of Asher's frustration came from the uselessness of his attempts without the proper tools.
Asher 因為沒有適當工具，他的種種嘗試全都白費力氣，令他十分沮喪。
Yuki complained about the uselessness of that gardening website for treating the diseased rose bushes.
Yuki 抱怨那個園藝網站對治療生病的玫瑰叢完全沒有幫助。
The uselessness of the training video frustrated Eli because it skipped the most basic safety steps.
那支教學影片的沒用讓 Eli 很懊惱，因為它跳過了最基本的安全步驟。
- futility
emphasises that effort is wasted, not just that something has no value
- pointlessness
more informal and suggests the action has no purpose or aim
- worthlessness
stronger moral or emotional weight; often used about people or their contributions
文法句型
the uselessness of [noun phrase]
prove one's uselessness
用法筆記
Often found in the pattern 'the uselessness of something' where the object is a tool, system, plan, or effort that fails to serve its intended purpose. Common with stative verbs like 'accept', 'admit', 'recognize', and 'highlight'. Can be modified by 'complete', 'total', 'utter'.
常見錯誤
2. the quality of being unable to produce a desired result when tried, especially a
無效；徒勞
用了卻達不到預期結果
the quality of being unable to produce a desired result when tried, especially against a strong force, condition, or opponent.
The old fertiliser demonstrated its uselessness for reviving the dying tomato vines in the garden.
那些老舊的肥料在拯救花園裡奄奄一息的番茄藤時，顯示出完全無效。
uselessness for + gerund (purpose)
Henry's apology demonstrated the uselessness of words once the damage to their friendship was already done.
Henry 的道歉在兩人的友誼已被傷害之後，顯得徒勞無功。
The uselessness of the medicine against the new virus strain alarmed the doctors in the village.
那種藥物對正在村莊裡擴散的新病毒株完全無效，令醫生們十分憂心。
Camille grew frustrated at the uselessness of her attempts to open the jar with just a butter knife.
Camille 對自己用奶油刀撬開罐子的徒勞嘗試感到越發沮喪。
- potency
for medicines or forces
文法句型
the uselessness of [noun] against [force]
[possessive] uselessness for [gerund/noun]
用法筆記
Stronger than 'ineffectiveness'. Often paired with 'against' when describing something that fails to overcome a challenge. Frequently appears with 'medicine', 'apology', 'effort', 'attempt', 'weapon' as the subject in the pattern 'the uselessness of [noun] against [force]'.
常見錯誤
3. the fact or condition of having little or no ability to perform a particular tas
無能；不行
完全做不好某事的特質
the fact or condition of having little or no ability to perform a particular task; being extremely bad at doing an activity, no matter how much effort is put in.
Tara's constant mistakes made everyone aware of her uselessness at handling customer complaints.
Tara 不斷出錯，讓大家都知道她在處理客訴方面非常無能。
uselessness at + gerund
Sayaka joked about her uselessness at assembling furniture from a flat pack.
Sayaka 開玩笑說自己對組裝平面家具非常不在行。
Selim tried to hide his uselessness at cooking by ordering takeout every single night.
Selim 每天晚上叫外送，試圖隱瞞自己完全不會做菜這件事。
Imani's uselessness at parallel parking was a running joke among her closest friends.
Imani 在路邊停車方面的無能，是她好友圈裡的笑話。
Piotr's feeling of uselessness at work grew worse after the new accounting software was installed.
Piotr 在安裝了新會計軟體之後，覺得自己在工作上很無能。
Joaquín's uselessness at map reading kept taking the group the wrong way.
Joaquín 非常不會看地圖，老是帶著大家走錯路。
Hari admitted his uselessness at changing a punctured tire by the roadside.
Hari 承認自己完全不會在路邊換輪胎。
Tara's uselessness in the kitchen meant her flatmate always handled the actual cooking.
Tara 在廚房裡幫不上忙，所以總是讓室友負責做菜。
The new intern's uselessness at filing documents kept mixing up the client folders.
新來的實習生非常不擅長歸檔文件，老是搞混客戶的資料夾。
- incompetence
more formal and serious; suggests a permanent lack of skill
- hopelessness
closer in tone but broader in meaning; can also describe situations
文法句型
[possessive] uselessness at [gerund/noun]
[possessive] uselessness in [noun phrase]
feel uselessness
用法筆記
Informal and often self-deprecating or humorous. 'Uselessness at' followed by an activity (gerund or noun) is the most common pattern. 'Feeling of uselessness' describes a person's emotional response to being unable to contribute. Not typically used for serious or life-threatening incompetence — 'incompetence' is more appropriate there.