1.
wasted effort; fruitless labor; vain attempt
Effort or trouble that produces no result. Emphasizes the futility of the work expended.
無駄骨を折る。
To waste one's efforts.
結局、無駄骨に終わった。
In the end, it turned out to be a wasted effort.
わざわざ行ったのに無駄骨だった。
I went out of my way to go, but it was all for nothing.
無駄骨を折らないように、事前に確認しておいたほうがいい。
You should check in advance so you don't waste your efforts.
Compound of 無駄 (futile, useless) + 骨 (bone; effort, trouble). The 骨 here refers to effort or labor (as in 骨を折る, "to make an effort"), so 無駄骨 literally means "useless effort."
USAGE:
Most commonly appears in the expression 無駄骨を折る (to waste one's efforts) or 無駄骨に終わる (to end up being a wasted effort). Often used when someone went to considerable trouble only to achieve nothing.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 無駄骨を折る — to waste one's efforts
- 無駄骨に終わる — to end in wasted effort
- 無駄骨だった — it was a wasted effort
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 徒労 — futile effort (more literary/formal)
- 骨折り損 — effort that went unrewarded (emphasizes the loss)
- 無駄足 — wasted trip (specifically about going somewhere for nothing)