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無駄骨を折る (むだぼねをおる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, godan verb (-ru)
waste one's efforts ; work to no effect
rare term idiomatic expression
Idiomatic expression meaning to put in effort that yields no useful result. Often used when the outcome is already determined or the task is pointless. Rare term, but the concept is common.
彼かれ は 無む 駄だ 骨ぼね を 折お っ て 、 結けっ 局きょく 何なに も 得え られ なかっ た 。
He worked to no effect and ended up gaining nothing.
Written forms 無む 駄だ 骨ぼね を 折お る
Standard kanji spelling for this idiomatic expression.
むだ 骨ぼね を 折お る
Mixed kana-kanji spelling; 無駄 is sometimes written in kana.
無駄ほねを折るむだぼねをおる
Mixed kanji-kana spelling; 骨 is sometimes written in kana.
むだぼねを 折お る
All-kana spelling; common in casual writing.
Kanji 無 nothingness, none, ain't 駄 burdensome, pack horse, horse load Similar words 無む 駄だ 無駄 is a noun/adjective meaning 'waste' or 'futility'. 無駄骨を折る is a verb phrase built on 無駄, specifically referring to wasted physical or mental effort.
骨ほね 折お る 骨折る means 'to make an effort' or 'to work hard'. 無駄骨を折る adds the nuance that the effort is futile.
Etymology Compound of 無駄 (muda, 'waste') + 骨 (hone, 'bone') + を + 折る (oru, 'break'). Literally 'to break one's bones in vain', an idiomatic expression for wasted effort.
