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何の役にも立たない (なんのやくにもたたない) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

何なんの役やくにも立たたない

Meanings

1

expression, i-adjective

completely useless; of no use whatsoever; good for nothing

Strong negative expression meaning something is utterly useless or worthless. Often used to dismiss an object, idea, or person.

この壊こわれた時計とけいは何なんの役やくにも立たたない。
This broken watch is completely useless.
彼かれのアドバイス

は

何なん

の

役やく

に

も

立た

た

なかっ

た

。

His advice was of no use whatsoever.

Written forms

何なんの役やくにも立たたない
Standard kanji spelling for this fixed expression.
なんの役やくにも立たたない
Kana spelling of the first part; common in casual writing.

Kanji

何what
役duty, war, campaign
立stand up, rise, set up

Similar words

役やくに立たつ
Positive counterpart meaning 'useful' or 'helpful'. 何の役にも立たない is its emphatic negative form.
無む駄だ
Means 'waste' or 'futile'. 何の役にも立たない focuses on lack of utility, while 無駄 emphasizes wasted effort or resources.

Etymology

Fixed expression composed of 何の (what kind of) + 役に立つ (to be useful) in negative form. The phrase literally means 'does not stand in any role', i.e., serves no purpose.