Translation guide
To cause something to fail, become useless, or be completely ruined. Often used in formal or literary contexts.
To make someone's plans, efforts, or hopes come to nothing; to thwart or frustrate.
Literally 'to turn into bubbles on the water.' A common idiom meaning to render efforts futile or bring to nothing.
彼の不注意が計画を水の泡にした。
His carelessness brought the plan to naught.
To make something ineffective, invalid, or without value.
To invalidate, nullify, or make void. Common in legal or official contexts.
契約は無効にされた。
The contract was brought to naught.
To bring to total ruin or destruction.
The English phrase 'bring to naught' is formal and somewhat archaic. In Japanese, there is no single direct equivalent; choose an expression based on the nuance of failure, invalidation, or destruction.
Both mean to ruin or spoil, but 台無し is more general (ruin a mood, event, object), while 水の泡 specifically emphasizes efforts becoming futile, like bubbles vanishing.
突然の嵐で私たちの努力はすべて水の泡になった。
All our hard work was brought to naught by the sudden storm.
新しい証拠でその事件は無効になった。
The new evidence brought the case to naught.
To ruin, spoil, or make something come to nothing. Very common in everyday speech.
雨でピクニックが台無しになった。
The rain brought the picnic to naught.
To nullify, void, or render meaningless. Often used for efforts, promises, or rules.
彼の努力は無にされた。
His efforts were brought to naught.
To frustrate, thwart, or cause a setback. Often used for plans or ambitions.
その失敗が彼の夢を挫折させた。
That failure brought his dreams to naught.
Literally 'to end up as a painted rice cake.' A literary idiom meaning plans or efforts come to nothing.
長年の研究も画餅に帰した。
Years of research were brought to naught.
To render meaningless or pointless.
その一言が彼の謝罪を無意味にした。
That one remark brought his apology to naught.
To make something worthless or valueless.
インフレが貯金を無価値にした。
Inflation brought their savings to naught.
To destroy, ruin, or bring to ruin. Often used for nations, organizations, or abstract things.
戦争が国を滅ぼした。
The war brought the country to naught.
To destroy, demolish, or wreck. More physical than '滅ぼす'.
地震が町を破壊した。
The earthquake brought the town to naught.
To annihilate or wipe out completely.
敵軍は全滅させられた。
The enemy army was brought to naught.