Japanese meaning of 無駄骨を折る
Reading:
むだぼねをおる (muda hone o oru)
English Translation:
Barking up the wrong tree
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
Exerting effort that produces no result.
Cultural Context:
The phrase “hone o oru” is idiomatic; “muda” resonates with Toyota’s lean concepts (muda/mura/muri); used in study and workplace contexts.
苦労しても成果が出ないこと。
「骨を折る」という慣用表現に由来し、「ムダ・ムラ・ムリ」を忌避する生産方式とも響き合う。学業・職場で用いられる。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• 無駄骨 (mudabone) = “wasted effort” (noun; 無駄 “futile” + 骨 “effort”)
• を (o) = object marker
• 折る (oru) = “to break/expend” (verb, plain form)
Noun + を + verb structure, expressing an action that ends up being in vain.
Trap for English Speakers
Literal meaning may confuse learners; it’s a metaphor for wasted effort, not about criticizing bones.
Example
Basic Example
徹夜で作業したのに採用されず、無駄骨を折った。
I worked all night, but my proposal wasn’t accepted—I barked up the wrong tree.
Applied Example
「これ全部やり直し？…完全に無駄骨を折ったな」
“All of this… and we have to redo it? I totally barked up the wrong tree.”