英语短语"for nothing"是一个常用表达,核心含义围绕“无回报、无结果或无理由”,具体用法可分为三大类,以下结合语境和例句详细说明:
表示“无需付出金钱或代价就能获得/做某事”,常与give、do、get、take等动词搭配,强调“没有回报”。
He gave me the old bike for nothing— he didn’t want any money for it.(他免费把旧自行车给了我——没要一分钱。)
I did all the cleaning for nothing; my roommate didn’t even say thank you.(我无偿做了所有清洁;我室友连谢谢都没说。)
You can get a free sample for nothing at the store.(你可以在商店免费拿一份样品。)
表示“努力、付出或行动没有得到预期结果”,即“白费力气”。常用来描述努力、时间、情感等的浪费。
All our hard work went for nothing when the project was canceled.(项目取消时,我们所有的努力都白费了。)
Don’t cry— your tears will be for nothing if you don’t try to fix the problem.(别流泪——如果你不解决问题,眼泪也是白流。)
He studied all night for nothing— the exam was postponed.(他熬夜复习全白费了——考试延期了。)
表示“行为或情绪没有正当依据”,常用来抱怨“被冤枉、被冒犯”或“莫名发生的事”。
Why did she yell at me for nothing? I didn’t do anything wrong!(她为什么无缘无故骂我?我没做错任何事!)
He got angry for nothing— I just asked him a simple question.(他莫名发火——我只是问了个简单的问题。)
The dog bit me for nothing— I wasn’t even touching it.(狗无缘无故咬我——我根本没碰它。)
go for nothing:(计划、努力)泡汤;白费
例:Our plans to travel abroad went for nothing because of the pandemic.(因疫情,我们的出国计划泡汤了。)
die for nothing:白死;无意义地死去
例:Many soldiers died for nothing in that unnecessary war.(许多士兵在那场无意义的战争中白死了。)
get away with (sth) for nothing:(做了错事)没受惩罚;逍遥法外
例:He stole the money and got away with it for nothing— the police didn’t catch him.(他偷了钱却逍遥法外——警察没抓住他。)
位置:"for nothing"通常放在句末,修饰前面的动词或整个句子(如上述例句)。
区分近义短语:
"nothing for nothing":没有免费的午餐;天下没有白得的东西(强调“获得需付出代价”)。
例:You can’t get a good job nothing for nothing— you need to study hard.(你不可能不劳而获得到好工作——得努力学习。)
"think nothing of it":别客气;没关系(用于回应感谢,与"for nothing"无关)。
"for nothing"的核心是“无(回报/结果/理由)”,具体含义需结合语境判断:
涉及“钱/报酬”→ 免费;
涉及“努力/行动”→ 徒劳;
涉及“情绪/行为”→ 无缘无故。
通过例句代入语境,更容易掌握其用法~