不ふ毛もう

ふ

も

う

Common word›JLPTN1›Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', na-adjective, noun

Describes land or soil that cannot support plant life; also used metaphorically for unproductive efforts.

、

作さく

物もつ

が

育そだ

た

ない

。

This land is barren and cannot grow crops.

不ふ毛もうな議ぎ論ろんに時じ間かんを費ついやした。

We wasted time on a fruitless discussion.

na-adjective, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', noun

Used for discussions, efforts, or activities that yield no useful result; often with 議論, 努力, 争い.

不ふ毛もうな議ぎ論ろんa fruitless discussion that goes nowhere
二人ふたりは不ふ毛もうな議ぎ論ろんを何なん時じ間かんも続つづけた。
The two of them kept up a fruitless argument for hours.
不ふ毛もうな争あらそいa pointless conflict with no winner or resolution
両りょう国こくは不ふ毛もうな争あらそいを長なが年ねん繰くり返かえしている。
The two countries have repeated a pointless conflict for years.
〈事こと〉に終おわるfor an effort or discussion to end fruitlessly
その交こう渉しょうは不ふ毛もうに終おわった。
The negotiations ended fruitlessly.

無む駄だN4sense 2
無駄 is the general word for something wasteful or useless, while 不毛 specifically evokes barren land or effort that produces nothing at all, even metaphorically.
無む益えきN1sense 2
無益 means 'profitless' and is used for actions or efforts, whereas 不毛 more strongly suggests an empty, sterile situation with no hope of a result.

肥ひ沃よく sense 1
肥沃 describes soil that is rich and fertile, the direct opposite of 不毛 land that cannot support crops.
建けん設せつ的てき sense 2
建設的 describes a discussion or effort that is constructive and productive, contrasting with 不毛 discussions that go nowhere.

無む毛もう
無毛 means 'hairless' (having no body hair), while 不毛 means 'barren' or 'unproductive'; the similar kanji and negative prefix can mislead learners.

From 不 (not) + 毛 (hair/plant), literally 'hairless', extended to mean barren or unproductive.