百无一用 useless
Explanation
形容毫无用处，没有任何价值。
To describe something useless and valueless.
Origin Story
话说唐朝时期，有个书生名叫李白，他从小就博览群书，满腹经纶。但他自诩才高八斗，却对实际事务一窍不通，屡试不第，终日醉酒，不务正业。一日，他路遇一位老农，正辛勤耕作。李白见此，轻蔑一笑，说：“老丈，您这般辛苦劳作，终日与泥土打交道，有何意义？像我这样饱读诗书，才是真正的有学问，将来一定能金榜题名，光宗耀祖！”老农放下手中的锄头，平静地说：“读书固然重要，但若不能学以致用，则百无一用。我虽然不识字，却能用自己的双手养活家人，这难道不是一种意义吗？”李白闻言，羞愧难当，从此改变了态度，开始学习如何将所学知识运用到实际生活中，最终成为了一代诗仙。
Once upon a time, during the Tang Dynasty, there was a scholar named Li Bai who had been reading extensively since childhood. He boasted of his vast knowledge and talent, but he was completely ignorant of practical matters. He repeatedly failed the imperial examination and spent his days drinking and shirking his responsibilities. One day, he encountered an old farmer working diligently in the field. Li Bai scoffed, "Old man, what's the point of your toil? You're just toiling away in the dirt all day. Someone like me, with my profound knowledge of literature, will surely pass the imperial examination and bring glory to my ancestors!" The farmer laid down his hoe and calmly said, "Reading is indeed important, but if it is not put into practice, it is useless. Although I am illiterate, I can support my family with my own hands, isn't that meaningful?" Li Bai felt shame and changed his attitude. He began to learn how to apply his knowledge to practical life, eventually becoming a great poet.
Usage
用作谓语、定语；形容毫无用处。
Used as a predicate or attributive; describes something useless.
Examples
-
他读书多年，却百无一用，真是令人惋惜！
ta du shu duo nian que bai wu yi yong zhen shi ling ren wan xi
He studied for many years, but he is good for nothing, which is really a pity!
-
这个计划百无一用，我们必须重新考虑。
zhei ge ji hua bai wu yi yong wo men bi xu zhong xin kao lv
This plan is useless; we must reconsider it.