méiyòng: 没用 - Useless, Pointless, No Use

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• Summary: Learn how to use “没用” (méiyòng), one of the most common and essential words in Mandarin Chinese for expressing that something is “useless,” “pointless,” or has “no use.” This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical usage with dozens of examples, from describing a broken phone to understanding its harsh connotation when used to describe a person. Master this fundamental term to make your Chinese more direct and authentic.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): méiyòng
• Part of Speech: Adjective / Verb Phrase
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: It is useless; there is no use.
• In a Nutshell: `没用` is the everyday, go-to Chinese term for saying something lacks function, value, or effect. It's a very direct and clear expression. You can use it for a broken tool, a futile action, or ineffective advice. It embodies the simple, pragmatic concept of utility—either something has a use (`有用`), or it has no use (`没用`).

• 没 (méi): A crucial negative particle in Chinese. Its primary meaning is “not have” or “to not exist.” Think of it as the opposite of `有 (yǒu)` - to have.
• 用 (yòng): This character means “to use,” “utility,” or “function.”
• The combination is perfectly logical and transparent: 没 (méi) + 用 (yòng) = No Use / Useless. The word is a literal combination of its parts, making it very easy for beginners to remember.

In Chinese culture, pragmatism and utility are highly valued. An object, an idea, or even a skill is often judged by its practical application and its ability to produce a tangible result. The concept of `没用` taps directly into this cultural mindset. To declare something `没用` is to make a powerful and often final judgment on its value. This contrasts with some Western cultural tendencies to value things for purely sentimental reasons or for “art's sake.” While these concepts exist in China, the pragmatic assessment of usefulness is a very common and primary lens through which the world is viewed. This is most apparent when `没用` is applied to a person. In a collectivist society where an individual's contribution to the family, company, or group is paramount, being called `没用` is a deeply cutting insult. It's not just “you're not helpful right now”; it can imply that you are fundamentally incompetent, a failure, or a burden to others. It is significantly harsher and more personal than a casual “you're useless” in English.

`没用` is an extremely common word used in all informal and most general contexts.

• Describing Objects: This is the most common usage. If something is broken, obsolete, or doesn't serve its purpose, it's `没用`.
  • “My old phone is completely useless now.” (我的旧手机已经完全没用了。)
• Describing Actions or Advice: When you believe an action will yield no result, or that advice will not be taken, you can say it's `没用`.
  • “It's no use crying. You need to solve the problem.” (哭是没用的，你得解决问题。)
• Describing People (Harsh Insult): Use with extreme caution. Calling someone `没用` attacks their competence and value. It's often heard in arguments or from a very disappointed parent or boss.
  • “He can't do this simple thing, he's so useless!” (这么简单的事都做不好，他真没用！)
• Expressing Self-Deprecation: A person can use `没用` to describe themselves when feeling down or inadequate.
  • “I couldn't help at all, I feel so useless.” (我什么忙都帮不上，感觉自己很没用。)

• Example 1:
  • 这支笔坏了，没用了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhī bǐ huài le, méiyòng le.
  • English: This pen is broken, it's useless now.
  • Analysis: A simple, common sentence for a non-functional object. The final `了 (le)` indicates a change of state (it was useful, but now it is not).
• Example 2:
  • 你别担心了，担心也没用。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bié dānxīn le, dānxīn yě méiyòng.
  • English: Stop worrying, worrying is useless (anyway).
  • Analysis: Here, `没用` describes an action (worrying) as being futile and unproductive. The `也 (yě)` adds emphasis, like “also” or “even so”.
• Example 3:
  • 跟他讲道理是没用的，他根本不听。
  • Pinyin: Gēn tā jiǎng dàolǐ shì méiyòng de, tā gēnběn bù tīng.
  • English: It's useless to reason with him, he doesn't listen at all.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the `是…的 (shì…de)` structure, which is used for emphasis. It frames “reasoning with him” as a fundamentally useless activity.
• Example 4:
  • 我觉得我学的这个专业很没用，找不到好工作。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ juéde wǒ xué de zhège zhuānyè hěn méiyòng, zhǎo bu dào hǎo gōngzuò.
  • English: I feel that the major I studied is very useless, I can't find a good job.
  • Analysis: `没用` can describe abstract concepts like a university major, linking its “uselessness” to a practical outcome (or lack thereof).
• Example 5:
  • 你现在后悔也没用了，事情已经发生了。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xiànzài hòuhuǐ yě méiyòng le, shìqing yǐjīng fāshēng le.
  • English: It's no use regretting it now, what's done is done.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example of using `没用` to advise someone to stop a pointless emotional response and accept reality.
• Example 6:
  • 你骂我没用？你又能好到哪里去？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ mà wǒ méiyòng? Nǐ yòu néng hǎo dào nǎlǐ qù?
  • English: You're calling me useless? And how are you any better?
  • Analysis: This shows `没用` used in a heated argument. The speaker is retorting after being insulted, highlighting the term's power as an invective.
• Example 7:
  • 这种老式的手机，除了打电话，其他功能都没用。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng lǎoshì de shǒujī, chúle dǎ diànhuà, qítā gōngnéng dōu méiyòng.
  • English: For this kind of old-fashioned phone, besides making calls, all other functions are useless.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses `除了…都… (chúle…dōu…)` to specify what is useful versus what is `没用`.
• Example 8:
  • 别买这些没用的东西，太浪费钱了。
  • Pinyin: Bié mǎi zhèxiē méiyòng de dōngxi, tài làngfèi qián le.
  • English: Don't buy these useless things, it's such a waste of money.
  • Analysis: Here, `没用` acts as a direct adjective modifying “things” (`东西`). The `的 (de)` is required to link the adjective to the noun.
• Example 9:
  • 感觉自己很没用，什么都做不好。
  • Pinyin: Gǎnjué zìjǐ hěn méiyòng, shénme dōu zuò bu hǎo.
  • English: I feel so useless, I can't seem to do anything right.
  • Analysis: A classic case of self-deprecation. The speaker is expressing a feeling of incompetence or depression.
• Example 10:
  • 吃这个药对我的头痛一点儿也没用。
  • Pinyin: Chī zhège yào duì wǒ de tóutòng yīdiǎnr yě méiyòng.
  • English: Taking this medicine is not the least bit useful for my headache.
  • Analysis: This shows the `对…没用 (duì…méiyòng)` structure, meaning “is useless for…” It clarifies the target of the ineffectiveness. The phrase `一点儿也 (yīdiǎnr yě)` strongly emphasizes the complete lack of effect.

• `没用 (méiyòng)` vs. `无用 (wúyòng)`: These words are synonyms, but not interchangeable.
  • `没用` is conversational, common, and used in everyday speech. It's the word you'll hear 99% of the time.
  • `无用 (wúyòng)` is formal, literary, and more abstract. You might see it in writing, philosophical texts, or formal speeches (e.g., `无用之用` - the usefulness of uselessness, a Daoist concept). Using `无用` in a casual chat about a broken pen would sound very strange and overly dramatic.
• False Friend: “Useless” (English): While “useless” is the best translation, be aware that calling a person `没用` in Chinese is often much harsher and more personal than in English. In English, you might say “Oh, I'm so useless today” lightheartedly. In Chinese, saying `我今天很没用` carries a heavier weight of genuine incompetence.
• Common Mistake: `不有用 (bù yǒuyòng)`: Learners often try to negate `有用 (yǒuyòng - useful)` by adding `不 (bù)`. This is incorrect. The opposite of `有 (yǒu - to have)` is `没 (méi - to not have)`. Therefore, the correct negation of `有用` (lit. “have use”) is `没用` (lit. “not have use”).

• 有用 (yǒuyòng) - The direct antonym of `没用`, meaning “useful,” “effective,” or “helpful.”
• 无用 (wúyòng) - A more formal, literary synonym for `没用`. Best reserved for written Chinese or philosophical discussions.
• 废物 (fèiwù) - A noun meaning “waste material,” “trash.” When used to describe a person, it is an extremely strong and offensive insult, far more so than `没用`. It's like calling someone “human garbage.”
• 白费 (báifèi) - A verb meaning “to waste,” often referring to effort, time, or words (`白费力气` - to waste one's strength). It focuses on the action being in vain, whereas `没用` focuses on the lack of a useful result or quality.
• 没意思 (méi yìsi) - Another common `没 + noun` structure. It means “boring” or “uninteresting” (lit. “no meaning/interest”). It's a good term to learn alongside `没用` to see how the `没` structure works with different concepts.
• 没关系 (méi guānxi) - A fundamental phrase meaning “it doesn't matter” or “you're welcome.” Though it uses `没`, its function is completely different (reassurance), and it's important not to confuse it with `没用`.