白白浪费...
Pure waste...
직역: White white waste...
Use it to vent about resources spent with absolutely nothing to show for it.
15초 만에
- Expresses total frustration over wasted time, money, or effort.
- The double '白' emphasizes that the result was absolutely zero.
- Commonly used in daily life to vent about inefficiency.
뜻
This phrase is used to express that something—like time, effort, or money—has been completely wasted for absolutely no result. It carries a sense of frustration or regret because the resource was 'given away' to nothingness.
주요 예문
3 / 6Complaining about a bad movie
这张电影票钱真是白白浪费了。
This movie ticket money was a pure waste.
A meeting gets canceled last minute
我准备了这么久，结果白白浪费了我的精力。
I prepared for so long, and it just wasted my energy for nothing.
Texting a friend about a missed flight
晚点了三小时，白白浪费了一个下午！
Three hours late, a whole afternoon wasted for nothing!
문화적 배경
The concept of 'white' (白) meaning 'in vain' dates back to classical Chinese. In a culture that historically faced resource scarcity, the act of wasting is often met with strong social disapproval. Today, it is frequently used by parents to nag children about finishing their rice or studying harder.
The 'Double White' Rule
Using `白白` instead of just `白` makes your frustration sound much more intense and rhythmic.
Don't forget the '了'
When talking about something that already happened, always add `了` after `浪费` to show the 'waste' is complete.
15초 만에
- Expresses total frustration over wasted time, money, or effort.
- The double '白' emphasizes that the result was absolutely zero.
- Commonly used in daily life to vent about inefficiency.
What It Means
白白浪费 is your go-to phrase for total futility. The double 白 (white) doesn't mean the color here. It means 'in vain' or 'for nothing.' When you combine it with 浪费 (to waste), you get a punchy way to say a resource was spent with zero ROI. It is the linguistic equivalent of watching your hard-earned money fly out a window.
How To Use It
You usually place it before a noun like time, money, or energy. You can also use it before a verb to show an action was useless. For example, 白白浪费了我的时间 (purely wasted my time). It sounds natural and flows easily in conversation. It is often followed by a 了 to show the waste has already happened.
When To Use It
Use it when you feel a sting of regret. Use it at a restaurant if you overorder and leave food behind. Use it when a meeting gets canceled after you drove an hour to get there. It works perfectly when texting a friend about a bad movie. It is great for venting about a project that got scrapped at work.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid using it if someone is grieving or facing a serious tragedy. It can sound a bit too 'transactional' or cold for deep emotional loss. Don't use it for small, intentional treats. If you bought a cake and enjoyed it, it wasn't 白白浪费. Only use it when the outcome was truly zero or negative.
Cultural Background
Chinese culture traditionally places a massive emphasis on thrift and 'cherishing blessings' (惜福). Wasting food or time is often seen as a character flaw. The word 白 has a long history of meaning 'empty' or 'useless' in this context. Using this phrase shows you value efficiency and purpose. It reflects a practical mindset common in many Chinese households.
Common Variations
You might hear people just say 白忙了 (busy for nothing). Or they might say 白费劲 (wasted effort). 白白浪费 is the most complete and versatile version of these. It covers all types of waste, from physical objects to abstract concepts like youth or opportunities. It is the 'all-in-one' tool for expressing frustration over lost resources.
사용 참고사항
The phrase is highly versatile and fits into almost any register except the most formal legal documents. It is especially effective in spoken Mandarin to add 'flavor' to a complaint.
The 'Double White' Rule
Using `白白` instead of just `白` makes your frustration sound much more intense and rhythmic.
Don't forget the '了'
When talking about something that already happened, always add `了` after `浪费` to show the 'waste' is complete.
The 'Rice' Guilt
In China, leaving a single grain of rice is often called `白白浪费`. It's the ultimate 'mom' phrase!
예시
6这张电影票钱真是白白浪费了。
This movie ticket money was a pure waste.
Focuses on the monetary loss of a bad experience.
我准备了这么久，结果白白浪费了我的精力。
I prepared for so long, and it just wasted my energy for nothing.
Expresses frustration over wasted effort/energy.
晚点了三小时，白白浪费了一个下午！
Three hours late, a whole afternoon wasted for nothing!
Short, punchy, and very common in texting.
我办了卡却不去，真是白白浪费钱。
I got the membership but don't go; it's a total waste of money.
Self-deprecating humor about poor choices.
我觉得这五年的感情都白白浪费了。
I feel like these five years of feelings were all wasted in vain.
Used for deep personal regret regarding time and emotion.
我们不能白白浪费公司的资源。
We cannot let the company's resources go to waste for nothing.
Used in a professional setting to emphasize responsibility.
셀프 테스트
Choose the best word to complete the sentence about a canceled trip.
机票退不了，钱都___了。
Since the ticket can't be refunded, the money is lost for no reason, which fits 'pure waste'.
Express frustration about waiting for a friend who didn't show up.
我在雨里等了你一小时，真是___我的时间！
Waiting in the rain for nothing is a classic scenario for 'pure waste' of time.
🎉 점수: /2
시각 학습 자료
Formality of 白白浪费
Venting to friends about a bad meal.
这顿饭白白浪费钱！
Standard daily conversation or news reporting.
不要白白浪费机会。
Business meetings or official warnings.
严禁白白浪费公共资源。
When to say 'Pure Waste'
Unfinished Food
Leftovers at a buffet
Lost Time
Stuck in traffic
Useless Effort
Unread study notes
Missed Chance
Expired coupons
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문In this context, 白 means 'in vain' or 'without result.' It's like saying the effort was a blank slate with nothing written on it.
Not at all! It's very common. You can use it to complain about things together, like 白白浪费了我们的周末 (wasted our weekend for nothing).
Yes, it's neutral. You might say 不要白白浪费预算 (don't waste the budget for nothing) to sound professional yet firm.
浪费 is just 'to waste.' Adding 白白 adds an emotional layer of 'completely in vain' and makes it sound more natural in speech.
Usually no. You waste resources (time, money, talent), not people. But you can say someone is 白白浪费人才 (wasted a talent).
Yes, you can just say 白浪费了. Dropping one 白 is slightly less emphatic but still very common.
No, it's almost exclusively for negative situations where you feel regret or annoyance.
No, it is standard Mandarin and understood perfectly across all of China, Taiwan, and Singapore.
Learners often forget the object. Make sure to say *what* was wasted, like 白白浪费了[时间/钱/精力].
Be careful! That would be very rude. It implies their gift was 'useless.' Only use it for your own losses or shared frustrations.
관련 표현
白忙一场
To be busy for nothing/all for naught.
浪费时间
To waste time (standard).
徒劳无功
To work hard but achieve no result (idiom).
白费力气
A waste of physical effort.
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