- 徒劳无功 túláowúgōng to work to no availTo work in vain; to waste one's effort without achieving any results.
- 徒劳无益 túláowúyì futile efforta futile endeavor; to waste energy for no gain
- 徒劳往返 túláowǎngfǎn to make a futile journeyTo go back and forth in vain; to waste time and effort traveling between two places without achieving any result.