This site will be taken down March 31st, 2026.

This was not an easy decision to make. For the last couple years, I have been struggling to find motivation for this site and to keep up with basic maintenance and security updates. With the rise of AI and more sophisticated tools, the usefulness of sites like this is questionable and traffic has nose-dived. I just don't have it in me to keep doing this. Thank you all for 10 years of support!

Zach

徒労

Reading

Kana: とろう
Romaji: torou
Kana
Romaji

Definition

1

fruitless effort; wasted effort; abortive scheme; futility

Kanji

Readings: ト、 いたずら、 あだ
Meanings: on foot, junior, emptiness, vanity, futility, uselessness, ephemeral thing, gang, set, party, people
Readings: ロウ、 ろう.する、 いたわ.る、 いた.ずき、 ねぎら、 つか.れる、 ねぎら.う
Meanings: labor, thank for, reward for, toil, trouble

Example Sentences

()うまでもないことだが捜索(そうさく)徒労(とろう)()わった。
➥It goes without saying, but the search ended in vain.
Full Entry➤
(わたし)はその計画(けいかく)実現(じつげん)するためにあらゆる努力(どりょく)をしたが、結局(けっきょく)それは徒労(とろう)()わった。
➥I made every effort to realize the plan but after all it turned out to be in vain.
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