vain
英 [veɪn]
美 [veɪn]
adj. 徒劳的; 枉然的; 无结果的; 自负的; 自视过高的
Collins.2 / BNC.9731 / COCA.10144
同义词辨析
vainabortivefruitlessineffective【导航词义：未能达到目的的】
vainadj. 徒劳的，无结果的
〔辨析〕
指努力、希望、搜寻等未能获得想要的结果的。
〔例证〕
He underwent a knee operation in the vain hope of getting into the team.
他做了膝盖手术，徒劳地指望能进入该队。
She raised her head in a vain attempt to hold back the tears.
她仰起头，却无法忍住眼泪。
他做了膝盖手术，徒劳地指望能进入该队。
She raised her head in a vain attempt to hold back the tears.
她仰起头，却无法忍住眼泪。
abortiveadj. 失败的，夭折的
〔辨析〕
指行动、计划等没有成功的。
〔例证〕
an abortive takeover bid by the larger firm
由较大公司提出的夭折了的并购
There is no record of the abortive military coup.
没有关于那次未遂的军事政变的记录。
由较大公司提出的夭折了的并购
There is no record of the abortive military coup.
没有关于那次未遂的军事政变的记录。
fruitlessadj. 无结果的，无效果的
〔辨析〕
尤指付出很多努力却无成效的。
〔例证〕
So far, their research has been fruitless.
到目前为止，他们的研究工作毫无结果。
The fruitless attempt to settle the dispute disappointed him.
试图解决争端的努力白费了，这让他很失望。
到目前为止，他们的研究工作毫无结果。
The fruitless attempt to settle the dispute disappointed him.
试图解决争端的努力白费了，这让他很失望。
ineffectiveadj. 无效果的，不起作用的
〔辨析〕
侧重指人或事物未能发挥应有之作用的。
〔例证〕
The army has proved ineffective in protecting the local civilians.
军队没有起到保护当地平民的作用。
This special stain remover was almost ineffective in removing the soup stain.
这种特效去污剂基本去不掉汤渍。
The policy proved ineffective in dealing with the problem.
事实证明该政策未能解决问题。
军队没有起到保护当地平民的作用。
This special stain remover was almost ineffective in removing the soup stain.
这种特效去污剂基本去不掉汤渍。
The policy proved ineffective in dealing with the problem.
事实证明该政策未能解决问题。
习惯用语
adj.
- in vain
- 枉费心机；徒劳无益；白费力气
without success - They tried in vain to persuade her to go.
他们极力劝说她去，但枉费了一番口舌。 - All our efforts were in vain.
我们的所有努力都付诸东流了。 take sb's name in vain - 滥用…的名义；亵渎…的名字
to show a lack of respect when using sb's name - Have you been taking my name in vain again?
你又在滥用我的名义吧？
牛津词典
adj.
- 徒劳的；枉然的；无结果的
that does not produce the result you want- She closed her eyes tightly in a vain attempt to hold back the tears.
她紧闭双眼，却无法忍住眼泪。 - I knocked loudly in the vain hope that someone might answer.
我敲门敲得很响，希望有人应声，却是徒然。
- She closed her eyes tightly in a vain attempt to hold back the tears.
- 自负的；自视过高的
too proud of your own appearance, abilities or achievements- She's too vain to wear glasses.
她太爱虚荣，不肯戴眼镜。
- She's too vain to wear glasses.
柯林斯词典
- ADJ 徒劳的;无效的;不成功的
Avainattempt or action is one that fails to achieve what was intended.- The drafting committee worked through the night in a vain attempt to finish on schedule...
起草委员会为按计划完成草案已通宵加班，但结果仍是徒劳。 - I was singing in a vain effort to cheer him up.
我唱歌试图让他高兴起来，结果是白费力气。
- The drafting committee worked through the night in a vain attempt to finish on schedule...
- ADJ 徒然的;无望的
If you describe a hope that something will happen as avainhope, you mean that there is no chance of it happening.- He married his fourth wife, Susan, in the vain hope that she would improve his health.
他娶了第四个老婆苏珊，徒然希望她能使他健康状况好转。
- He married his fourth wife, Susan, in the vain hope that she would improve his health.
- ADJ-GRADED 自负的;虚荣的;自命不凡的
If you describe someone asvain, you are critical of their extreme pride in their own beauty, intelligence, or other good qualities.- I think he is shallow, vain and untrustworthy.
我认为他浅薄虚荣，不可信任。
- I think he is shallow, vain and untrustworthy.
- PHRASE 徒劳;白费力气
If you do somethingin vain, you do not succeed in achieving what you intend.- He stopped at the door, waiting in vain for her to acknowledge his presence...
他在门口停住，徒然地等待她和自己打招呼。 - It became obvious that all her complaints were in vain.
很明显她所有的抱怨都是白费口舌。
- He stopped at the door, waiting in vain for her to acknowledge his presence...
- PHRASE 无用的;无意义的;无价值的
If you say that something such as someone's death, suffering, or effort wasin vain, you mean that it was useless because it did not achieve anything.- He wants the world to know his son did not die in vain.
他想让全世界都知道，他的儿子不是白白死去的。
- He wants the world to know his son did not die in vain.
英英释义
adj
- unproductive of success
- a fruitless search
- futile years after her artistic peak
- a sleeveless errand
- a vain attempt
- characteristic of false pride
- a conceited fool
- an attitude of self-conceited arrogance
- an egotistical disregard of others
- so swollen by victory that he was unfit for normal duty
- growing ever more swollen-headed and arbitrary
- vain about her clothes
双语例句
- Our efforts were not in vain.
我们没有白忙。 - She and a neighbour tried in vain to revive him
她和邻居想尽一切办法都没能让他苏醒过来。 - He wants the world to know his son did not die in vain.
他想让全世界都知道，他的儿子不是白白死去的。 - I am not a vain creature
我不是个爱慕虚荣的人。 - Their hopes were but vain.
他们的希望只不过是妄想。 - Throughout the Twenties, Lardner tried in vain to write a hit song, so at last he turned to parody.
整个20年代，拉德纳尝试着想要写出一首走红歌曲，可是都失败了，于是最后转向戏仿他人的作品。 - Parents campaigned in vain for her reinstatement.
父母们呼吁给她复职，但结果却只是徒劳。 - He's a vain person.
他的虚荣心很强。 - He was self-important, vain and ignorant.
他傲慢自负，虚荣无知。 - He was vain and bombastic.
他自负虚荣，大话连篇。