Chinese word

无济于事

Pronunciation

Pinyinwú jì yú shì

Meaning

  • idiombe useless

Example

这些办法对病情无济于事。zhè xiē bàn fǎ duì bìng qíng wú jì yú shì

These methods are useless for the patient's condition.

Illustration for 无济于事 (be useless)

More examples

这些政策对经济下滑无济于事。zhè xiē zhèng cè duì jīng jì xià huá wú jì yú shì

These policies are useless against the economic downturn.

Core concept

An attempted remedy that leaves a problem unchanged, no matter how much effort it receives.

Common phrases

  • 对病情无济于事duì bìng qíng wú jì yú shì

    be useless for a medical condition

  • 对争端无济于事duì zhēng duān wú jì yú shì

    be useless for resolving a dispute

Similar words

于事无补yú shì wú bǔ: Failing to help solve a problem or improve a situation.
徒劳无功tú láo wú gōng: Making an effort that ends without any useful result.
无能为力wú néng wéi lì: Being unable to do anything to solve a problem because one's ability or power is insufficient.

Definition in Chinese

表示无论采取何种方法都不能解决问题或改善情形，措施无效。biǎo shì wú lùn cái qǔ hé zhǒng fāng fǎ dōu bù néng jiě jué wèn tí huò gǎi shàn qíng xíng cuò shī wú xiào

Word origin

The idiom 无济于事 (wújìyúshì, "be of no help to the matter") uses 济 (jì, "help or save") in its older sense, so the whole expression describes something that cannot rescue the situation.

Usage tips

  • This idiom has a formal, written-leaning tone, so it suits serious discussion and reports more naturally than relaxed small talk.

Other meanings

  • be futileidiom

Opposites

  • 有济于事yǒu jì yú shìbe usefulidiom

Word lists with this word