PhraseNinja

Proverbs

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.
日本語で読む
苦労しても成果が出ないこと。

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.
日本語で読む
「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”)<br>• を (o) = object marker<br>• 折る (oru) = “to break/expend” (verb, plain form)<br>Noun + を + verb structure, expressing an action that ends up being in vain.
日本語で読む
• 無駄骨 = 「無駄な骨折り・労力」を表す名詞（無駄 + 骨）<br>• を = 目的語を示す助詞<br>• 折る = 動詞「折る」の基本形<br>動作が無駄になることを表す構造です。

Trap for English Speakers

Literal meaning may confuse learners; it’s a metaphor for wasted effort, not about criticizing bones.
日本語で読む
骨を折るという直訳に見えるが、報われない労力を指す比喩。

Example

Example 1Basic Example

  1. 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.

Example 2Applied Example

  1. 「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.”

Quick check

Meaning

What does 「無駄骨を折る」 mean?

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