徒劳 (tú láo): Meaning, Examples & Usage
Hanzi Stroke
Dictionary
By Character
Browse all characters A-Z
By Pinyin
Search by pronunciation
By Radical
Find by radical component
By Components
Learn meaning and sound clues
HSK
HSK Lists
All HSK versions overview
HSK 2.0
Tools
Learn & Practice
Worksheet Generator
Blog
Learning Essentials
Home
Dictionary
徒劳
徒劳 (tú láo): Be in vain (Verb) — Meaning & Stroke Order
HSK 3.0
Level 7-9
1.
Animated Stroke Order
Practice Writing
2.
Free Printable Worksheet: 徒劳
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
Level 6
HSK 3.0
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
Level 6
Level 7-9
Create practice sheets for free
Worksheet Library
HSK, Top 100 & themed PDFs
Writing Practice
Practice HSK and saved words
Dictation Practice
Listen and write HSK characters
Flashcard Review
SRS review for HSK and custom decks
HSK Level Checker
Check HSK level of any text
Pinyin Converter
Convert Chinese to Pinyin
My Learning
Learning Dashboard
Track your writing progress
My Vocabulary
Review saved words and lists
Fun & Culture
Name Generator
Create your Chinese name
View All Tools
8 Basic Strokes Guide
Hot
Foundation of all characters
Pinyin Tones Guide
4 tones with audio examples
Chinese Handwriting Guide
Daily practice routine
HSK 3.0 Complete Guide
New
New exam format explained
HSK 1 Common Mistakes
Avoid beginner errors
Topics & Culture
Chinese Numbers 1-1000
Count like a native
Time & Dates Guide
Tell time in Chinese
Family Members Guide
30+ family terms
2026 Fire Horse Year
Hot
Zodiac meaning & luck
Top 100 Characters
Most frequent, free PDF
View All Blog Posts
Download Worksheet
Download full HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 PDF pack
3.
Character Breakdown
徒 • tú • disciple, follower, or on foot
tú
徒
disciple, follower, or on foot
劳 • láo • to labor, to work
láo
劳
to labor, to work
Zodiac Calculator
Find your zodiac animal
Words Sharing Characters
More common words that include characters from 徒劳.
Words with
徒
徒弟
tú dì
apprentice; disciple
歹徒
dǎi tú
scoundrel; ruffian; hoodlum
徒步
tú bù
On foot / Walking
使徒
shǐ tú
apostle
信徒
xìn tú
believer / follower
匪徒
fěi tú
gangster, bandit
叛徒
pàn tú
traitor; betrayer
司徒
sī tú
Situ; a compound Chinese surname
Words with
劳
劳动
láo dòng
labour; bother
劳驾
láo jià
excuse me
疲劳
pí láo
tired; fatigued; weary
功劳
gōng láo
contribution; meritorious service
勤劳
qín láo
diligent; industrious; hardworking
操劳
cāo láo
work hard
劳动力
láo dòng lì
labor force
劳务
láo wù
Labor service / manpower service
4.
How to Use 徒劳 in Sentences
Adverb + Verb
with
完全
wán
完
quán
全
tú
徒
láo
劳
neutral
completely futile
Subject + Verb
with
一切
yī
一
qiè
切
tú
徒
láo
劳
Adjective + Noun
with
尝试
tú
徒
láo
劳
de
的
cháng
尝
shì
试
Idiom
with
无功
tú
徒
láo
劳
wú
无
gōng
功
5.
Example Sentences with 徒劳
tā
他
shì
试
tú
图
yòng
用
shǒu
手
zhuā
抓
shuǐ
水
neutral
all in vain
formal
Written
futile attempt
formal
fruitless labor
,
dàn
但
tú
徒
láo
劳
le
了
。
He tried to catch water with his hands, but it was in vain.
zài
在
quē
缺
fá
乏
chōng
充
fèn
分
zhèng
证
jù
据
de
的
qíng
情
kuàng
况
xià
下
,
rèn
任
hé
何
zhǐ
指
kòng
控
dōu
都
jiāng
将
shì
是
tú
徒
láo
劳
de
的
。
Without sufficient evidence, any accusation will be in vain.
nǐ
你
nán
难
dào
道
bù
不
jué
觉
de
得
,
shì
试
tú
图
gǎi
改
biàn
变
tā
他
de
的
gù
固
zhí
执
xiǎng
想
fǎ
法
shì
是
tú
徒
láo
劳
de
的
ma
吗
?
Don't you think it's in vain to try to change his stubborn ideas?
tā
他
tú
徒
láo
劳
dì
地
fān
翻
biàn
遍
le
了
zhěng
整
gè
个
fáng
房
jiān
间
,
yě
也
méi
没
zhǎo
找
dào
到
nà
那
bǎ
把
diū
丢
shī
失
de
的
yào
钥
shi
匙
。
He searched the entire room in vain but still couldn't find the lost key.
rú
如
guǒ
果
méi
没
yǒu
有
zhōu
周
mì
密
de
的
jì
计
huà
划
,
yí
一
qiè
切
nǔ
努
lì
力
dōu
都
jiāng
将
shì
是
tú
徒
láo
劳
de
的
。
Without a detailed plan, all efforts will be in vain.