枉費（wǎng fèi）

Pronunciation: wǎng fèi

Basic Meaning: in vain; to no avail

Detailed Explanation: 枉費 is an idiom that describes a situation where one's efforts or actions are in vain and do not achieve the desired result. It implies that one's hard work or attempt is wasted and does not bring any positive outcome.

Usage Scenarios: 枉費 is often used to express disappointment or frustration when one's efforts, time, or resources are wasted without achieving the expected result. It can be used in various contexts, such as work, study, relationships, or any situation where one's efforts are not rewarded.

Story Origin: The origin of this idiom can be traced back to ancient China. In the book "Zhuangzi," there is a story about a man who used a lot of time and effort to dig a well in his backyard. However, the well turned out to be dry, which means his efforts were in vain. From then on, the phrase "枉費心機" (wǎng fèi xīn jī) was used to describe situations where one's efforts are wasted.

Structure of the Idiom: 枉費 is a combination of two Chinese characters. "枉" means in vain or wasted, and "費" means effort or to spend. Together, they form the meaning of wasted effort or in vain.

Example Sentences:

1. 我花了很多時間準備這次的演講，可是結果沒人聽，真是枉費了我的努力。

Translation: I spent a lot of time preparing for this speech, but no one listened in the end. It's really a waste of my efforts.

2. 他為了爭取這個項目，付出了很多努力，可是最后還是沒能成功，真是枉費了他的心血。

Translation: He put in a lot of effort to win this project, but in the end, he couldn't succeed. It's really a waste of his hard work.

Memory Techniques: To remember the meaning of 枉費, you can associate it with the image of digging a well in vain. Imagine yourself digging a well, but no water comes out, symbolizing wasted efforts. This mental image can help you remember the meaning of the idiom.

Extended Learning: To further expand your understanding of 枉費, you can explore related idioms and phrases, such as 枉自咎 (wǎng zì jiù), which means suffering from one's own mistakes, or 枉顧 (wǎng gù), which means neglecting or ignoring something important.

Example Sentences from Different Age Groups:

1. Primary School Student (Age 10): 我昨天花了很多時間畫了一幅漂亮的畫，可是老師卻沒夸獎我，真是枉費了我的努力。

Translation: I spent a lot of time yesterday drawing a beautiful picture, but the teacher didn't praise me. It's really a waste of my efforts.

2. Middle School Student (Age 14): 我為了準備這次的考試，每天都復習到很晚，但是考試成績還是不理想，真是枉費了我這段時間的努力。

Translation: I stayed up late every day to prepare for this exam, but the result is still not satisfactory. It's really a waste of my time and effort.

3. College Student (Age 20): 我為了找到一份好工作，投了很多簡歷，但是都沒有收到回復，感覺自己的努力都是枉費。

Translation: I sent out a lot of resumes to find a good job, but I didn't receive any replies. I feel like all my efforts were in vain.