in vain

むなしく、無駄に

努力しても、望んだ結果が得られずに。

やさしい英語で： Without achieving what you wanted, despite trying.

• We waited in vain for a reply.
• She searched in vain for her missing ring.
• He tried in vain to open the locked door.

類義語： unsuccessfully, fruitlessly

反対語： successfully

よく使う表現： try in vain, search in vain, wait in vain

みだりに、不敬に

特に神聖な名を、敬意を払わず軽々しく使って。

やさしい英語で： Without proper respect, especially when using a religious name carelessly.

• They warned him against using God’s name in vain.
• She believes saying the Lord’s name in vain is wrong.
• The sermon discussed what it means to take God’s name in vain.

使い方： take someone’s name in vain (He was accused of taking God’s name in vain.)

類義語： irreverently, disrespectfully

反対語： respectfully

よく使う表現： take something in vain, in vain again

無駄な、実を結ばない

努力が望んだ結果につながらなかった状態。

やさしい英語で： If an effort is like this, it does not achieve the result you wanted.

• Our efforts were in vain.
• All that work was in vain because the event was canceled.
• Was her long struggle really in vain?

類義語： unsuccessful, useless, fruitless

反対語： successful

よく使う表現： be in vain, all in vain