(1)爱虚荣的，高傲的 (excessively proud of one's own appearance， qualities or achievements)： a～man/young woman 高傲的人/姑娘;be～and extravagant 傲慢而奢侈;be～about (of) one's appearance/one's beauty/one's good looks 对自己的容貌/美貌/标致长相感到骄傲;Too much praise can make a man～. 过分的赞扬能使人高傲自负。as～as a peacock 孔雀般高傲;〖同〗proud，self-satisfied，self-admiring，conceited;〖反〗modest，humble，unsatisfied;unsure，shy;

(2)无意义(价值)的(without real importance or value)[作attrib]：～promises/triumphs/threats 空洞的许诺/徒有虚名的胜利/毫无意义的威胁;(playing cards)be a～pastime to sb(打扑克)对某人是无谓的消遣;waste one's time in the～pleasures of smoking and drinking 在吸烟喝酒毫无意义的享乐中浪费自己的时间;〖同〗useless， fruitless，unprofitable;worthless;〖反〗useful，fruitful，profitable，beneficial，worthwhile;

(3)徒劳(无结果)的 (unsuccessful)[通常attrib]： make (a)～attempt(s)/effort(s) to reach the sinking boat (the drowning boy/the top of the mountain/sb by telephone) 徒劳地试图/努力靠近下沉的船(靠近溺水男孩/到达山顶/与某人用电话联系);the～attempt to stop passage of the bill/start the car 阻止议案的通过/将车起动的毫无结果的努力;(all efforts/resistance) be～(一切努力/抵抗)都是徒劳的;It is～to resist/to attempt to root out heresy by force. 抵抗/靠武力企图铲除异教是徒劳的。

in vain 1)徒劳地：wait/look in～for sb/sth 等候/寻找某人/某物毫无结果;try to do sth， but in～试图做某事，但是终归白费力气;2)无用(效果)的： (all one's efforts/all one's attempts) be in～(所有的努力/尝试) 都是白费气力;in the～hope of persuading sb 枉然地希望说服某人;It is in～that sb does... 某人做某事毫无结果;〖同〗unsuccessful，useless，fruitless，ineffective，profitless;〖反〗successful，victorious，useful，fruitful，effective;

→′vainly adv 徒劳地;自负地′vainness n 自负;

【注意】vain和vein(血管)， vane(风向标)发音相似，容易造成误认。