白 + Verb (in vain / for nothing) · 白 + Verbe (en vain / pour rien)
The office was closed after a long trip
- 办公室关门了，我白跑了一趟。 The trip failed to achieve the intended office errand.
- 白跑 presents the effort as wasted for that purpose. It does not prove that no other useful or pleasant event happened on the trip.
The office was closed after a long trip
- office办公室to close a door关门(completed / change)了，I / me我白跑(completed / change)了一趟。 The trip failed to achieve the intended office errand.
- 白跑 presents the effort as wasted for that purpose. It does not prove that no other useful or pleasant event happened on the trip.
Put 白 before the evaluated action
- 他没来，我们白等了一个小时。 The expected person did not arrive, so the waiting failed in its intended purpose.
- 白等、白忙 and 白跑 describe fruitless effort in these contexts. Read what the person hoped to achieve.
I我in vain白wait等了ages半天。
Put in vain / free / white, according to context白 before the evaluated action
- he / him他没来，we / us我们白等(completed / change)了一个hour小时。 The expected person did not arrive, so the waiting failed in its intended purpose.
- 白等、白忙 and 白跑 describe fruitless effort in these contexts. Read what the person hoped to achieve.
I我in vain白wait等了ages半天。
他没来，我们____等了一个小时。
白 evaluates the waiting as fruitless for meeting the expected person.
Contrast 白 with 没白
- 这趟没白来，学到了很多。 The trip was worthwhile because the speaker learned a lot.
- 没白 rejects the in-vain evaluation: it was not in vain. It does not mean the person did not come.
Contrast in vain / free / white, according to context白 with not in vain没白
- 这趟没白来，to learn (sth)学到(completed / change)了很多。 The trip was worthwhile because the speaker learned a lot.
- not in vain没白 rejects the in-vain evaluation: it was not in vain. It does not mean the person did not come.
这趟没白来，学到了很多 means…
没白 denies the in-vain evaluation, not the coming.
没白来 means 没来: the person did not come.
It means coming was not in vain.
Other uses of 白 need their own context
- 这顿饭是白吃的 in a stated free-meal context can mean no payment was needed. 白纸 uses 白 as the colour white.
- Do not force the wasted-effort reading onto every 白. In ambiguous accounts, clarify the intended meaning rather than counting characters.
Other uses of in vain / free / white, according to context白 need their own context
- this这顿饭to be / is是to eat without paying白吃(of / 's)的 in a stated free-meal context can mean no payment was needed. 白纸 uses in vain / free / white, according to context白 as the colour white.
- Do not force the wasted-effort reading onto every in vain / free / white, according to context白. In ambiguous accounts, clarify the intended meaning rather than counting characters.
Which meaning is stated?
Identify the meaning and evidence in each complete example.
A failed errand proves that no separate benefit occurred on the trip.
The intended errand may fail while another benefit occurs.
Match the complete example to the stated meaning.
Read the action, context and the stated evidence.
Every 白 before an action must mean wasted effort.
A stated no-payment context can support the free-of-charge reading.
An intended failure can coexist with another gain
- 我白跑了邮局一趟，没寄成信，不过在路上见到了朋友。 The mailing errand failed, while the trip had a separate benefit.
- The extra benefit does not automatically make the first clause broken. Identify which purpose the speaker is evaluating.
An intended failure can coexist with another gain
- I / me我白跑(completed / change)了post office邮局一趟，not / haven't没寄成letter信，but不过at / in在on the road路上to see见到(completed / change)了friend朋友。 The mailing errand failed, while the trip had a separate benefit.
- The extra benefit does not automatically make the first clause broken. Identify which purpose the speaker is evaluating.
我白跑了邮局，没寄成信，不过见到了朋友. Which intended task failed?
没寄成信 identifies the unsuccessful mailing purpose.
State the result you mean
- For worthwhile learning, 这趟没白来，学到了很多 supplies the reason. For a failed errand, 我白跑了一趟，办公室关门了 supplies the failure.
- In a new example, identify the effort, intended purpose and actual result. Distinguish wasted effort, no payment and colour.
In a new example, identify the effort, intended purpose and actual result. Distinguish wasted effort, no payment and colour.
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar — Adverbs.
State the result you mean
- For worthwhile learning, 这趟没白来，to learn (sth)学到(completed / change)了很多 supplies the reason. For a failed errand, I / me我白跑(completed / change)了一趟，office办公室to close a door关门(completed / change)了 supplies the failure.
- In a new example, identify the effort, intended purpose and actual result. Distinguish wasted effort, no payment and colour.
In a new example, identify the effort, intended purpose and actual result. Distinguish wasted effort, no payment and colour.
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar — Adverbs.
Which gives a reason why a visit was worthwhile?
The learning gain supports the positive evaluation.