白费口舌 waste one's breath
Explanation
指言语无效，毫无结果。
Means that speech is ineffective and fruitless.
Origin Story
从前，在一个偏僻的山村里，住着一位德高望重的老禅师。一天，村里来了一个年轻人，他自称是远道而来，想向老禅师请教人生的道理。年轻人滔滔不绝地向老禅师讲述了自己的困惑和迷茫，他希望老禅师能给他指点迷津，帮助他找到人生的方向。老禅师静静地听着，一言不发。年轻人越说越激动，越说越投入，仿佛要把心中积压已久的情绪全部释放出来。然而，不管年轻人如何努力地阐述，老禅师始终保持沉默，没有任何回应。最后，年轻人疲惫地停了下来，他意识到自己白费口舌，老禅师并没有被他的话语所打动。年轻人带着失望的心情离开了山村，他并没有得到自己想要的答案，却在沉默中获得了一种新的领悟。
Once upon a time, in a remote mountain village, there lived an old Zen master of high moral standing. One day, a young man came to the village claiming to have traveled far and wanted to ask the Zen master about the meaning of life. The young man talked endlessly to the Zen master about his confusion and anxieties, hoping that the Zen master could guide him and help him find direction in life. The Zen master listened quietly without saying a word. The young man became more and more excited and involved, as if wanting to release all the emotions that had been pent up in his heart for a long time. However, no matter how hard the young man tried to explain himself, the Zen master remained silent and gave no response. Finally, the exhausted young man stopped. He realized that his words had been in vain, and the Zen master had not been moved by what he had said. The young man left the village with disappointment. He did not get the answer he wanted, but he gained a new understanding in silence.
Usage
常用作谓语、宾语；形容说话没有效果。
Often used as a predicate or object; describes an ineffective conversation.
Examples
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跟他说什么都没用，简直是白费口舌。
gen ta shuo shenme dou mei yong, jian zhi shi bai fei kou she
It's useless to talk to him; it's just a waste of breath.
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我试图说服他，但白费口舌。
wo shi tu shuo fu ta, dan bai fei kou she
I tried to persuade him, but it was in vain.