Meaning of 没用
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- useless
How to use 没用
没用 describes things, actions, or even people that are useless or don't help. It often appears as 说了也没用 or 哭也没用 to say something is pointless. Example: 这把伞坏了，没用了。(Zhè bǎ sǎn huài le, méiyòng le.) This umbrella is broken. It's useless now.
没 (méi) means "not have" and 用 (yòng) means "use," so 没用 is literally "has no use." Picture an object that simply has no use left in it.
Common mistake: Learners mix up 没用 (useless) with 不用 (bùyòng, no need to). 你不用去 means "you don't need to go," while 你去也没用 means "going won't help."
没用 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
没 méi · have not · 7 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
用 yòng · to use · 5 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Related words
Words that share a character with 没用.
| 没有 | méiyǒu | haven't; hasn't |
| 不用 | bùyòng | need not |
| 没什么 | méi shénme | it doesn't matter; it's nothing; never mind; think nothing of it; it's my pleasure; you're |
| 没关系 | méi guānxi | it doesn't matter |
| 有用 | yǒuyòng | useful |
| 没事儿 | méishìr | to have spare time; free from work |
| 使用 | shǐyòng | to use; to employ |
| 作用 | zuòyòng | to act on; to affect; action; function; activity |
| 信用卡 | xìnyòngkǎ | credit card |
| 常用 | cháng yòng | in common usage |
| 利用 | lìyòng | to exploit; to make use of |
| 费用 | fèiyong | cost; expenditure |
Questions about 没用
What does 没用 mean?
没用 (méiyòng) means "useless" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 没用?
没用 is made of 2 characters: 没 (7 strokes), 用 (5 strokes). That is 12 strokes in total.
Is 没用 an HSK word?
Yes. 没用 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 没用 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 没用 is written 沒用.
Is calling someone 没用 rude?
Yes, it can be. 你真没用 (nǐ zhēn méiyòng) means "you're so useless" and sounds harsh. People also say 我真没用 about themselves when they feel they failed.
What is the opposite of 没用?
The opposite is 有用 (yǒuyòng), meaning useful. For example, 这本书很有用 (zhè běn shū hěn yǒuyòng) means "this book is very useful."