枉费心机

tā xiǎng zài wǒ men zhōng jiān tiǎo bō lí jiàn jié guǒ shì wǎng fèi xīn jī de

他想在我们中间挑拨离间，结果是枉费心机的。

He tried in vain to sow dissension among us.

zhè shì tú láo wú yì de gào sù nǐ nǐ shì zài wǎng fèi xīn jī

这是徒劳无益的。告诉你，你是在枉费心机。

It's all to no purpose. I tell you that you are plowing the sand.

tā qǐ tú yòu shǐ nà ge qīng nián lí kāi nóng cūn jié guǒ què shì wǎng fèi xīn jī

他企图诱使那个青年离开农村，结果却是枉费心机。

He tried in vain to lute the young man away from the countryside.