白 + Verb (in vain / for nothing)
"All for nothing"
- white白 + Verb = "(do) … in vain / for nothing".
- to go on an errand for…白跑一趟 = "made a trip for nothing"; 白等(completed / change)了 = "waited in vain".
- white白 says the effort brought no result.
white白 + Verb
- white白 marks wasted, fruitless effort.
I我in vain白wait等了ages半天。
- 白等(completed / change)了half of the day半天 = "(I) waited ages for nothing."
Explore
Correct or broken?
白 + verb wastes the effort: done for nothing — unless 没白 redeems it.
Practice
I waited ages for nothing: 我 ____ 等了半天。
白 + Verb = in vain: 白等了半天.
Practice
白 here means the action led nowhere (was wasted).
Yes — “for nothing / in vain”.
Recap
Key idea
- white白 + Verb — "(do) … in vain / for nothing"
- to go on an errand for…白跑一趟 · 白等(completed / change)了 · 白忙
- white白 says the effort led nowhere
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar — Adverbs.
Practice
白跑一趟 means…
白 = the effort brought no result: 白跑, 白忙.