英汉词典

vain 基本解释

• adj. 徒劳的；自负的；无结果的；无用的

vain 词态变化

vain 中文词源

来自拉丁语vanus,空的，虚无的，来自PIE*wa-no,分开的，遗弃的，词源同vacate,want,wane.

vain 英文词源

vain

vain: [13] Latin vānus meant ‘empty’ (it was related to vacuus ‘empty’, source of English vacuum). It passed into English via Old French vain in the sense ‘worthless’, and the main modern meaning ‘conceited’ did not develop until the 17th century. Also from vānus come English evanescent, vanish, vanity [13], and vaunt [14], and wane, want, etc go back to the same ultimate Indo-European base.
=> evanescent, vanish, vanity, vaunt, wane, want

vain (adj.)

c. 1300, "devoid of real value, idle, unprofitable," from Old French vain, vein "worthless, void, invalid, feeble; conceited" (12c.), from Latin vanus "empty, void," figuratively "idle, fruitless," from PIE *wa-no-, from root *eue- "to leave, abandon, give out" (cognates: Old English wanian "to lessen," wan "deficient;" Old Norse vanta "to lack;" Latin vacare "to be empty," vastus "empty, waste;" Avestan va- "lack," Persian vang "empty, poor;" Sanskrit una- "deficient," Armenian unain "empty").

Meaning "conceited, elated with a high opinion of oneself" first recorded 1690s in English; earlier "silly, idle, foolish" (late 14c.). Phrase in vain "to no effect" (c. 1300, after Latin in vanum) preserves the original sense. Related: Vainly; vainness. Compare also vainglory.

vain 词组搭配

vain 英文释义

1. characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance;

"a conceited fool"

"an attitude of self-conceited arrogance"

"an egotistical disregard of others"

"so swollen by victory that he was unfit for normal duty"

"growing ever more swollen-headed and arbitrary"

"vain about her clothes"

2. unproductive of success;

"a fruitless search"

"futile years after her artistic peak"

"a sleeveless errand"

"a vain attempt"

vain 同义词解析

haughty, proud, arrogant, vain

这些形容词都有"骄傲的，傲慢的"之意。

haughty： 较正式用词，多用于贬义。指对身份或地位比自己低的人采取冷淡、轻视或鄙互的态度。

proud： 含义广，普通用词。褒义指自豪和荣耀以及强烈的自尊；贬义则指傲慢，自以为是或自鸣得意。

arrogant： 用于贬义，指过高估计自己，以致骄傲自大或傲慢无礼，目中无人。

vain： 指一个对自己的外表或对自己留给别的印象太过分地关注，以致自命不凡，自鸣得意。

vain 双语例句

1. He is still vain enough to dye his hair red.

他还是很虚荣，把头发染成了红褐色。

来自柯林斯例句

2. It became obvious that all her complaints were in vain.

很明显她所有的抱怨都是白费口舌。

来自柯林斯例句

3. I am not a vain creature.

我不是个爱慕虚荣的人。

来自柯林斯例句

4. She is perceived as vain, spoilt and promiscuous.

她被认为是个被人惯坏了的、既虚荣又淫乱的女人。

来自柯林斯例句

5. He was self-important, vain and ignorant.

他傲慢自负，虚荣无知。

来自柯林斯例句

vain 实用场景例句

She closed her eyes tightly in a vain attempt to hold back the tears.

她紧闭双眼，却无法忍住眼泪。

牛津词典

I knocked loudly in the vain hope that someone might answer.

我敲门敲得很响，希望有人应声，却是徒然。

牛津词典

She's too vain to wear glasses.

她太爱虚荣，不肯戴眼镜。

牛津词典

They tried in vain to persuade her to go.

他们极力劝说她去，但枉费了一番口舌。

牛津词典

All our efforts were in vain.

我们的所有努力都付诸东流了。

牛津词典

The drafting committee worked through the night in a vain attempt to finish on schedule...

起草委员会为按计划完成草案已通宵加班，但结果仍是徒劳。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

I was singing in a vain effort to cheer him up.

我唱歌试图让他高兴起来，结果是白费力气。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

He married his fourth wife, Susan, in the vain hope that she would improve his health.

他娶了第四个老婆苏珊，徒然希望她能使他健康状况好转。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

I think he is shallow, vain and untrustworthy.

我认为他浅薄虚荣，不可信任。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

He stopped at the door, waiting in vain for her to acknowledge his presence...

他在门口停住，徒然地等待她和自己打招呼。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

It became obvious that all her complaints were in vain.

很明显她所有的抱怨都是白费口舌。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

He wants the world to know his son did not die in vain.

他想让全世界都知道，他的儿子不是白白死去的。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

As he stood there, the sun went behind the clouds, leaving the room gloomy.

此时太阳光忽然躲起来了, 厢房里便显得很阴暗.

子夜部分

They attempted in vain to modernise these antiquated industries.

他们企图使这些陈旧的工业现代化,结果劳而无功.

《简明英汉词典》

It is vain to resist.

抵抗是没用的.

《简明英汉词典》

He is vain of his speech.

他对自己的发言很得意.

《现代英汉综合大词典》

Their blood was not shed in vain.

他们的血没有白流.

《现代汉英综合大词典》

The principal made another vain appeal for better equipment in the school laboratory.

校长又一次请求增加学校实验设备,但又是一场空.

《用法词典》

He made a vain attempt to reach the drowning child.

他试图接近那个快淹死的小孩,但没有成功.

《简明英汉词典》

In making that plea he will breathe in vain.

他做那种恳求是白费口舌的.

《现代英汉综合大词典》

He's very vain of his abilities.

他对于自己的能力很自负.

《简明英汉词典》

All his efforts were in vain.

他的一切努力都归无效.

《现代英汉综合大词典》

He could not bring himself to like the boastful, vain Arabella.

他无法让自己喜欢爱夸耀的 、 虚荣的阿拉贝拉.

《简明英汉词典》

I don't like a vain woman.

我讨厌爱慕虚荣的女人.

《简明英汉词典》

In the eye of the Buddhist, every worldly affair is vain.

在佛教徒的眼里, 人世上一切事情都是空的.

《用法词典》

I read his article again and again, trying hard to understand what he was driving at but in vain.

我把他的文章读了一遍又一遍, 但对他的意图仍百思不解.

《现代汉英综合大词典》

He was so vain and reckless that he would break a friendship, rather than not break a jest.

他是如此虚荣狂妄,宁可和人翻脸, 有笑话却不能不说.

《简明英汉词典》

Who's been taking my name in vain? I don't hold such an opinion.

谁在滥用我的名义? 我不赞成这个建议.

《简明英汉词典》

We searched in vain for the missing child.

我们到处寻找那孩子,但没有找到.

《简明英汉词典》