Profitless means two close things, and people slide between them. First: it does not make a profit. A profitless shop takes money in, but after costs there is nothing left — or there is a loss.

Profitless means two close thingsProfitless有兩個相近的意思, and people slide between them人們常常在兩者之間滑來滑去。First第一, it does not make a profit它不賺錢。A profitless shop takes money in一間profitless的店有收到錢進來, but after costs there is nothing left但扣掉成本之後什麼都不剩 — or there is a loss或是還虧錢。

Second: it is not useful to do. A profitless argument gets you nowhere; a profitless hour gives you nothing back.

Second第二, it is not useful to do它做起來沒有用。A profitless argument gets you nowhere一場profitless的爭論不會讓你有任何進展; a profitless hour gives you nothing back一個profitless的小時什麼回報都沒有。

Though actually, in speech most people say unprofitable when they mean money, and pointless or a waste of time when they mean effort. Profitless is a little more written, a little older in feel, and it covers both money and ‘no use’ without changing the word. You can still use it; just know it is not the first word a young speaker reaches for.

Though actually不過其實, in speech口語裡 most people say unprofitable大部分人在講錢的時候會說unprofitable when they mean money, and pointless or a waste of time而在講心力的時候會說pointless或a waste of time when they mean effort。Profitless is a little more writtenProfitless比較偏書面, a little older in feel感覺也比較老派, and it covers both money and 'no use' without changing the word而且它不用換字就能同時涵蓋「money」和「no use」這兩個意思。You can still use it你還是可以用這個字; just know it is not the first word a young speaker reaches for只是要知道這不是年輕人第一個會想到的字。