徒然的英文：
hold a candle to the Sun
vainly
vainness

参考例句：

Make ineffectual attempts to do sth
徒然尝试做某事

we love in vain narcissistic so shallow.
我们的所爱是如此的徒然无用,其实是自我陶醉和如此的浅薄!

It was a strange, weird, interesting and yet futile battle of wits.
这是希奇、古怪、有趣、但是徒然的斗智。

I will lose no time in vain regret.
我不会在徒然的后悔中失去时间。

Telephones shrill uselessly in deserted offices.
在空无一人的办公室里，电话铃徒然发出尖锐刺耳的响声。

My endeavors to bring about a settlement were ended in vain.
我想达成和解的努力均归徒然。

Twelve of them shining bright in vain, like flowers that blossom just once in years.
徒然闪耀，像是数载盛放一次的花簇般尽情的绽放。

To no end gathered: vainly then released, forth flowing, wending back: loom of the moon
漫无目的地凑在一起;然后又徒然地散开，淌出去，又流回来。

Didn't the attempts of the three imperialist states prove to be futile and crazy?
难道还没有证明这三个帝国主义国家的企图是狂妄的和徒然的吗？

The beauty of nature reforms itself in the mind, and not for barren contemplation, but for new creation.
大自然的美在心灵中可以自我改造，不是为了徒然的冥想，而是为了新的创造。

hold是什么意思：
n. 控制；握住；保留
v. 拿住，握住；保留；保持不变，持续；约束，控制；拘留；容纳；持有；适用

nail down; nail in;hold by
钉住;使人遵守诺言

We hold on in spite of the storm
我们冒着暴风雨继续前进。

hold a fair to raise money
举办义卖会筹款

candle是什么意思：
n. 蜡烛，烛光
v. 对着光检查

The wick of a candle.
烛芯一支蜡烛的烛芯。

The heat dissolved the candles.
热使蜡烛溶化了。

The table was bare, the candles unlighted.
桌子上是空的，蜡烛也没点。

sun是什么意思：
n. 太阳；阳光；恒星
v. 晒（太阳）

The sun is down.
太阳下山了。

apex of the sun
太阳向点

Sun-shrooms give small sun at first and normal sun later.
阳光蘑菇开始时只给予少量阳光，稍后即会恢复正常。