méiyǒu yìyì: 没有意义 - Meaningless, Pointless, Senseless [The Contextual Chinese Dictionary]

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====== méiyǒu yìyì: 没有意义 - Meaningless, Pointless, Senseless ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** méiyǒu yìyì, 没有意义, meaning of meiyou yiyi, what does meiyou yiyi mean, pointless in Chinese, meaningless in Chinese, senseless, futile, no point, Chinese for meaningless.
  * **Summary:** "没有意义 (méiyǒu yìyì)" is a fundamental and versatile Chinese phrase used to express that something is "meaningless," "pointless," or "senseless." It can be used to describe actions, arguments, situations, or even life itself, ranging from a casual dismissal of a trivial task to a deep philosophical statement. This guide will help you understand its core meaning, cultural context, and practical usage in modern Chinese, making it an essential phrase for any learner to master.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** méiyǒu yìyì
  * **Part of Speech:** Phrase (can function as a predicate or adjective)
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 (for 意义)
  * **Concise Definition:** To lack meaning, significance, or purpose.
  * **In a Nutshell:** "没有意义" is the direct Chinese equivalent of saying something is "pointless" or "meaningless." It's used to convey that an action, effort, or statement has no value, purpose, or will not lead to a useful result. Think of it as the go-to phrase for expressing futility, whether you're talking about a silly argument or a profound existential crisis.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **没 (méi):** A negative particle meaning "not have" or "there isn't." It is the negation of 有 (yǒu).
  * **有 (yǒu):** To have, to possess, or to exist. Together, 没有 (méiyǒu) is the standard way to say "to not have."
  * **意 (yì):** This character relates to "meaning," "thought," or "intention." It's found in words like 意思 (yìsi - meaning).
  * **义 (yì):** This character implies a deeper sense of "significance," "justice," or "righteousness."
When combined, 意义 (yìyì) creates the concept of "meaning" or "significance" in a profound sense. Therefore, a literal translation of 没有意义 (méiyǒu yìyì) is "to not have meaning/significance," which perfectly matches its modern usage.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
In Chinese culture, which often emphasizes pragmatism and purpose, the concept of "没有意义" is a powerful statement. Declaring an action "pointless" is not just an observation; it's a judgment on its value. It reflects a practical mindset: if effort does not yield a tangible or meaningful outcome (whether it's learning, social harmony, or a concrete result), then the effort itself can be seen as wasted.
This contrasts with the Western phrase "it is what it is," which often implies a passive acceptance of a situation. "没有意义" is more active. It's a declaration that the situation or action is inherently lacking in value. While it can be used in a detached, philosophical way (e.g., in discussions of Daoism, where striving for worldly things can be seen as ultimately "meaningless"), in everyday conversation it's a direct and often critical assessment of futility.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
"没有意义" is extremely common in daily life. Its tone can range from lighthearted and dismissive to serious and despairing, depending entirely on the context.
==== Dismissing Arguments or Trivial Matters ====
It's frequently used to shut down a pointless debate or to express that something isn't worth worrying about.
  * *Example:* "Stop fighting over such a small issue, it's meaningless." (为这点小事争吵**没有意义**。)
==== Expressing Futility or Despair ====
This is a more serious usage, where the speaker feels that their efforts are in vain or that a situation is hopeless.
  * *Example:* "I've tried to change his mind so many times, but it's pointless." (我试了很多次，但改变他的想法是**没有意义**的。)
==== Philosophical or Existential Statements ====
The phrase can also be used to express deeper feelings about life, work, or existence.
  * *Example:* "If you're not happy, earning more money is meaningless." (如果你不快乐，赚再多的钱也**没有意义**。)
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 和一个固执的人争论完全**没有意义**。
    * Pinyin: Hé yīgè gùzhí de rén zhēnglùn wánquán **méiyǒu yìyì**.
    * English: Arguing with a stubborn person is completely pointless.
    * Analysis: This is a very common and practical use of the phrase. It expresses the futility of an action.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 如果你只是为了父母而学习，那学习本身就**没有意义**了。
    * Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ zhǐshì wèile fùmǔ ér xuéxí, nà xuéxí běnshēn jiù **méiyǒu yìyì** le.
    * English: If you only study for your parents' sake, then the studying itself becomes meaningless.
    * Analysis: This sentence uses "没有意义" to talk about the motivation and intrinsic value of an activity.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 我觉得每天重复做同样的工作，真是**没有意义**。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ juéde měitiān chóngfù zuò tóngyàng de gōngzuò, zhēnshi **méiyǒu yìyì**.
    * English: I feel that doing the same repetitive work every day is really meaningless.
    * Analysis: Here, it's used to express personal dissatisfaction and a sense of purposelessness in a job.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 别再想过去了，已经发生的事情，后悔也**没有意义**。
    * Pinyin: Bié zài xiǎng guòqù le, yǐjīng fāshēng de shìqíng, hòuhuǐ yě **méiyǒu yìyì**.
    * English: Stop thinking about the past. For things that have already happened, regret is pointless.
    * Analysis: This is a piece of advice, using the phrase to encourage someone to move on by highlighting the futility of regret.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 这个会议开了三个小时，但什么问题都没解决，完全是**没有意义**的。
    * Pinyin: Zhège huìyì kāile sān gè xiǎoshí, dàn shénme wèntí dōu méi jiějué, wánquán shì **méiyǒu yìyì** de.
    * English: This meeting went on for three hours, but didn't solve any problems. It was completely meaningless.
    * Analysis: Note the use of "的 (de)" at the end, which turns the phrase into an adjective describing the meeting.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 一些人认为，没有爱的人生是**没有意义**的。
    * Pinyin: Yīxiē rén rènwéi, méiyǒu ài de rénshēng shì **méiyǒu yìyì** de.
    * English: Some people believe that a life without love is meaningless.
    * Analysis: This demonstrates the phrase's use in a more profound, philosophical context about the meaning of life.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 我们的努力最终失败了，感觉一切都**没有意义**。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen de nǔlì zuìzhōng shībài le, gǎnjué yīqiè dōu **méiyǒu yìyì**.
    * English: Our efforts ultimately failed; it feels like everything was pointless.
    * Analysis: This sentence conveys a strong sense of despair and hopelessness after a failure.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 制定一个你永远不会执行的计划是**没有意义**的。
    * Pinyin: Zhìdìng yīgè nǐ yǒngyuǎn bùhuì zhíxíng de jìhuà shì **méiyǒu yìyì** de.
    * English: Making a plan that you will never execute is meaningless.
    * Analysis: This is a practical, logical statement about the value of planning versus action.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 老师说，没有实践的理论是**没有意义**的。
    * Pinyin: Lǎoshī shuō, méiyǒu shíjiàn de lǐlùn shì **méiyǒu yìyì** de.
    * English: The teacher said that theory without practice is meaningless.
    * Analysis: This highlights its use in an academic or educational context to emphasize the importance of application.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 你为什么要做这种**没有意义**的事情来浪费时间？
    * Pinyin: Nǐ wèishéme yào zuò zhè zhǒng **méiyǒu yìyì** de shìqíng lái làngfèi shíjiān?
    * English: Why do you want to do this kind of pointless thing and waste time?
    * Analysis: Here, "没有意义的" acts as an adjective directly modifying "事情" (shìqíng - thing/matter).
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
The most common mistake for learners is confusing "没有意义 (méiyǒu yìyì)" with "没意思 (méi yìsi)." While they look similar, their meanings are very different.
  * **`没有意义 (méiyǒu yìyì)` means "pointless" or "meaningless."** It is an objective judgment about the value or purpose of something.
    * *Example:* 学习历史很有**意义**，但对某些人来说很**没意思**。 (Xuéxí lìshǐ hěn yǒu **yìyì**, dàn duì mǒuxiē rén lái shuō hěn **méi yìsi**.) - Studying history is very **meaningful**, but for some people, it's very **boring**.
  * **`没意思 (méi yìsi)` means "boring" or "uninteresting."** It is a subjective feeling about how engaging something is.
    * *Example:* This movie is so boring! (这个电影真**没意思**!)
**Common Pitfall:** Do not use "没有意义" to say you don't understand something. It doesn't mean "it makes no sense to me." For that, you should use `我不懂 (wǒ bù dǒng)` or `我不明白 (wǒ bù míngbai)`.
  * **Incorrect:** 老师讲的课**没有意义**。 (Lǎoshī jiǎng de kè **méiyǒu yìyì**.) - This is very rude. It means "The class the teacher gave was pointless/worthless."
  * **Correct:** 我没听懂老师讲的课。 (Wǒ méi tīng dǒng lǎoshī jiǎng de kè.) - "I didn't understand the class the teacher gave."
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[没意思]] (méi yìsi) - Boring, uninteresting. Describes a subjective feeling, not objective value.
  * [[无聊]] (wúliáo) - Can mean "boring" (like 没意思) or a stronger "senseless/absurd." It sometimes overlaps with the "senseless" aspect of 没有意义.
  * [[徒劳]] (túláo) - A more formal, literary word for "futile" or "in vain." Describes an effort that yielded no result.
  * [[白费]] (báifèi) - To waste (effort, money, time). You can say an effort was 白费 because the task was 没有意义.
  * [[价值]] (jiàzhí) - Value, worth. This is the core concept that is absent when something is 没有意义.
  * [[目的]] (mùdì) - Purpose, goal, objective. An action without a clear 目的 might be considered 没有意义.
  * [[空虚]] (kōngxū) - Empty, void. A feeling one might have when they feel their life is 没有意义.
  * [[何必]] (hébì) - Why is it necessary? A rhetorical question used to imply that an action is pointless. E.g., "你何必跟他吵架？" (Why bother arguing with him?).