Quotes
Japanese meaning of 無駄な努力 ご苦労様♠
— Hisoka Morow ／ HUNTER×HUNTER
Voice sample:
むだなどりょく ごくろうさま (Muda na doryoku, gokurōsama.)
English Translation:
Thanks for all your pointless effort. ♠
Original Scene & Cultural Context
Scene in the Original Work:
In HUNTER×HUNTER vol. 3, chapter 19, during the Hunter Exam, Hisoka easily dodges an attack, overpowers the attacker, and says this.
日本語で読む
『HUNTER×HUNTER』3巻第19話、ハンター試験中。おそいかかってきた相手の攻撃をあっさりかわして返り討ちにしたヒソカが、こう言う。
Cultural Context:
Hisoka often ends his lines with playing-card marks such as ♠ and ♥. In a Mynavi News survey of Hisoka's lines, this one ranked 1st.
日本語で読む
ヒソカのセリフには、♠や♥などトランプのマークがよくつく。マイナビニュースのヒソカの名言アンケートでは1位だった。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
•「無駄な」= useless, pointless. •「努力」= effort. •「ご苦労様」= thanks for your trouble.
日本語で読む
•「無駄な」は役に立たないこと。•「ご苦労様」は相手の苦労をねぎらう言葉。
Trap for English Speakers
ご苦労様 is said by a superior to someone below them; to your boss, say お疲れ様です. Putting 無駄な in front turns it into pure sarcasm.
日本語で読む
「ご苦労様」は目上が目下にかける言葉で、上司には「お疲れ様です」と言う。「無駄な」をつけると、完全な皮肉になる。
Example
Example 1Basic Example
宿題を写させてもらおうと、あの手この手で頼んでくる弟に、姉は「無駄な努力 ご苦労様」と言ってドアを閉めた。
My little brother tried every trick to get my sister to let him copy her homework. She said, "Thanks for all your pointless effort," and shut the door.
Example 2Applied Example
（三十分かけて髪型を整えたのに、外に出たら強風だった兄に、妹が）無駄なセット ご苦労様。
(To her brother, who spent 30 minutes on his hair only to step out into a strong wind) "Thanks for all your pointless styling."
Quick check
Meaning
What does 「無駄な努力 ご苦労様♠」 mean?