tou4 jin4徒然

Jyutpingtou4 jin4

Yaletòuh yìhn

形容詞Rare

Definition

In vain; futile; uselessly done.

writtendescriptionsdaily actions

How it's used

This word carries a slightly formal or literary tone compared to the more common colloquial expression 白做. It is frequently used in written Cantonese or when expressing a sense of resignation or philosophical reflection on wasted effort. You will often hear it paired with 嘅 to emphasize the futility of a situation.

Examples

nam2諗gam3咁do1多dou1都hai6係tou4徒jin4然，bat1不jyu4如zou6做zo2咗sin1先laa1啦。

Overthinking is all in vain, better just do it first.

keoi5佢faa1花zo2咗hou2好do1多sam1心gei1機，daan6但zeoi3最hau6後dou1都hai6係tou4徒jin4然。

He spent a lot of effort, but in the end, it was all for nothing.

Common phrases

tou4徒jin4然mou4無gung1功

to be fruitless and achieve nothing

jat1一cai3切tou4徒jin4然

everything is in vain

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a verb, but it functions as an adjective or adverb describing the state of an action. Avoid using it as a direct replacement for 浪費, which specifically means to waste something like time or money.