méiyǒu yìyì: 没有意义 - Meaningless, Pointless, Senseless

• Keywords: méiyǒu yìyì, 没有意义, meaning of meiyou yiyi, what does meiyou yiyi mean, pointless in Chinese, meaningless in Chinese, senseless, futile, no point, Chinese for meaningless.
• Summary: “没有意义 (méiyǒu yìyì)” is a fundamental and versatile Chinese phrase used to express that something is “meaningless,” “pointless,” or “senseless.” It can be used to describe actions, arguments, situations, or even life itself, ranging from a casual dismissal of a trivial task to a deep philosophical statement. This guide will help you understand its core meaning, cultural context, and practical usage in modern Chinese, making it an essential phrase for any learner to master.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): méiyǒu yìyì
• Part of Speech: Phrase (can function as a predicate or adjective)
• HSK Level: HSK 4 (for 意义)
• Concise Definition: To lack meaning, significance, or purpose.
• In a Nutshell: “没有意义” is the direct Chinese equivalent of saying something is “pointless” or “meaningless.” It's used to convey that an action, effort, or statement has no value, purpose, or will not lead to a useful result. Think of it as the go-to phrase for expressing futility, whether you're talking about a silly argument or a profound existential crisis.

• 没 (méi): A negative particle meaning “not have” or “there isn't.” It is the negation of 有 (yǒu).
• 有 (yǒu): To have, to possess, or to exist. Together, 没有 (méiyǒu) is the standard way to say “to not have.”
• 意 (yì): This character relates to “meaning,” “thought,” or “intention.” It's found in words like 意思 (yìsi - meaning).
• 义 (yì): This character implies a deeper sense of “significance,” “justice,” or “righteousness.”

When combined, 意义 (yìyì) creates the concept of “meaning” or “significance” in a profound sense. Therefore, a literal translation of 没有意义 (méiyǒu yìyì) is “to not have meaning/significance,” which perfectly matches its modern usage.

In Chinese culture, which often emphasizes pragmatism and purpose, the concept of “没有意义” is a powerful statement. Declaring an action “pointless” is not just an observation; it's a judgment on its value. It reflects a practical mindset: if effort does not yield a tangible or meaningful outcome (whether it's learning, social harmony, or a concrete result), then the effort itself can be seen as wasted. This contrasts with the Western phrase “it is what it is,” which often implies a passive acceptance of a situation. “没有意义” is more active. It's a declaration that the situation or action is inherently lacking in value. While it can be used in a detached, philosophical way (e.g., in discussions of Daoism, where striving for worldly things can be seen as ultimately “meaningless”), in everyday conversation it's a direct and often critical assessment of futility.

“没有意义” is extremely common in daily life. Its tone can range from lighthearted and dismissive to serious and despairing, depending entirely on the context.

It's frequently used to shut down a pointless debate or to express that something isn't worth worrying about.

• *Example:* “Stop fighting over such a small issue, it's meaningless.” (为这点小事争吵没有意义。)

This is a more serious usage, where the speaker feels that their efforts are in vain or that a situation is hopeless.

• *Example:* “I've tried to change his mind so many times, but it's pointless.” (我试了很多次，但改变他的想法是没有意义的。)

The phrase can also be used to express deeper feelings about life, work, or existence.

• *Example:* “If you're not happy, earning more money is meaningless.” (如果你不快乐，赚再多的钱也没有意义。)

• Example 1:
  • 和一个固执的人争论完全没有意义。
  • Pinyin: Hé yīgè gùzhí de rén zhēnglùn wánquán méiyǒu yìyì.
  • English: Arguing with a stubborn person is completely pointless.
  • Analysis: This is a very common and practical use of the phrase. It expresses the futility of an action.
• Example 2:
  • 如果你只是为了父母而学习，那学习本身就没有意义了。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ zhǐshì wèile fùmǔ ér xuéxí, nà xuéxí běnshēn jiù méiyǒu yìyì le.
  • English: If you only study for your parents' sake, then the studying itself becomes meaningless.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses “没有意义” to talk about the motivation and intrinsic value of an activity.
• Example 3:
  • 我觉得每天重复做同样的工作，真是没有意义。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ juéde měitiān chóngfù zuò tóngyàng de gōngzuò, zhēnshi méiyǒu yìyì.
  • English: I feel that doing the same repetitive work every day is really meaningless.
  • Analysis: Here, it's used to express personal dissatisfaction and a sense of purposelessness in a job.
• Example 4:
  • 别再想过去了，已经发生的事情，后悔也没有意义。
  • Pinyin: Bié zài xiǎng guòqù le, yǐjīng fāshēng de shìqíng, hòuhuǐ yě méiyǒu yìyì.
  • English: Stop thinking about the past. For things that have already happened, regret is pointless.
  • Analysis: This is a piece of advice, using the phrase to encourage someone to move on by highlighting the futility of regret.
• Example 5:
  • 这个会议开了三个小时，但什么问题都没解决，完全是没有意义的。
  • Pinyin: Zhège huìyì kāile sān gè xiǎoshí, dàn shénme wèntí dōu méi jiějué, wánquán shì méiyǒu yìyì de.
  • English: This meeting went on for three hours, but didn't solve any problems. It was completely meaningless.
  • Analysis: Note the use of “的 (de)” at the end, which turns the phrase into an adjective describing the meeting.
• Example 6:
  • 一些人认为，没有爱的人生是没有意义的。
  • Pinyin: Yīxiē rén rènwéi, méiyǒu ài de rénshēng shì méiyǒu yìyì de.
  • English: Some people believe that a life without love is meaningless.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the phrase's use in a more profound, philosophical context about the meaning of life.
• Example 7:
  • 我们的努力最终失败了，感觉一切都没有意义。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de nǔlì zuìzhōng shībài le, gǎnjué yīqiè dōu méiyǒu yìyì.
  • English: Our efforts ultimately failed; it feels like everything was pointless.
  • Analysis: This sentence conveys a strong sense of despair and hopelessness after a failure.
• Example 8:
  • 制定一个你永远不会执行的计划是没有意义的。
  • Pinyin: Zhìdìng yīgè nǐ yǒngyuǎn bùhuì zhíxíng de jìhuà shì méiyǒu yìyì de.
  • English: Making a plan that you will never execute is meaningless.
  • Analysis: This is a practical, logical statement about the value of planning versus action.
• Example 9:
  • 老师说，没有实践的理论是没有意义的。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī shuō, méiyǒu shíjiàn de lǐlùn shì méiyǒu yìyì de.
  • English: The teacher said that theory without practice is meaningless.
  • Analysis: This highlights its use in an academic or educational context to emphasize the importance of application.
• Example 10:
  • 你为什么要做这种没有意义的事情来浪费时间？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ wèishéme yào zuò zhè zhǒng méiyǒu yìyì de shìqíng lái làngfèi shíjiān?
  • English: Why do you want to do this kind of pointless thing and waste time?
  • Analysis: Here, “没有意义的” acts as an adjective directly modifying “事情” (shìqíng - thing/matter).

The most common mistake for learners is confusing “没有意义 (méiyǒu yìyì)” with “没意思 (méi yìsi).” While they look similar, their meanings are very different.

• `没有意义 (méiyǒu yìyì)` means “pointless” or “meaningless.” It is an objective judgment about the value or purpose of something.
  • *Example:* 学习历史很有意义，但对某些人来说很没意思。 (Xuéxí lìshǐ hěn yǒu yìyì, dàn duì mǒuxiē rén lái shuō hěn méi yìsi.) - Studying history is very meaningful, but for some people, it's very boring.
• `没意思 (méi yìsi)` means “boring” or “uninteresting.” It is a subjective feeling about how engaging something is.
  • *Example:* This movie is so boring! (这个电影真没意思!)

Common Pitfall: Do not use “没有意义” to say you don't understand something. It doesn't mean “it makes no sense to me.” For that, you should use `我不懂 (wǒ bù dǒng)` or `我不明白 (wǒ bù míngbai)`.

• Incorrect: 老师讲的课没有意义。 (Lǎoshī jiǎng de kè méiyǒu yìyì.) - This is very rude. It means “The class the teacher gave was pointless/worthless.”
• Correct: 我没听懂老师讲的课。 (Wǒ méi tīng dǒng lǎoshī jiǎng de kè.) - “I didn't understand the class the teacher gave.”

• 没意思 (méi yìsi) - Boring, uninteresting. Describes a subjective feeling, not objective value.
• 无聊 (wúliáo) - Can mean “boring” (like 没意思) or a stronger “senseless/absurd.” It sometimes overlaps with the “senseless” aspect of 没有意义.
• 徒劳 (túláo) - A more formal, literary word for “futile” or “in vain.” Describes an effort that yielded no result.
• 白费 (báifèi) - To waste (effort, money, time). You can say an effort was 白费 because the task was 没有意义.
• 价值 (jiàzhí) - Value, worth. This is the core concept that is absent when something is 没有意义.
• 目的 (mùdì) - Purpose, goal, objective. An action without a clear 目的 might be considered 没有意义.
• 空虚 (kōngxū) - Empty, void. A feeling one might have when they feel their life is 没有意义.
• 何必 (hébì) - Why is it necessary? A rhetorical question used to imply that an action is pointless. E.g., “你何必跟他吵架？” (Why bother arguing with him?).