He was not vain, but he was quietly proud of his literary achievements.

他并不负，但暗地里却为己取得的文学成就而得意。

The actor is so vain that he can never be satiated with adulation.

那个演员太爱虚荣以奉承已不能使他满足。

Her modesty is all put on; at heart she is very vain.

她的谦逊全是假装的, 内心里她是很虚荣的。

They tried in vain to open the locked door.

他们妄图打开锁着的门。

They attempted in vain to modernise these antiquated industries.

他们企图使这些陈旧的工业现代化,结果劳而无功。

I tried to chuff her up in vain.

我想让她高兴起来,但是白费力气。

I tried in vain to dispel her misgivings.

我试图消除她的疑虑, 但没有成功。

Her counterpart left in vain and vapidity.

对方索然无味，徙劳而去。

He made a vain attempt to reach the drowning child.

他试图接近那个快淹死的小孩, 但没有成功。

In making that plea he will breathe in vain.

他做那种恳求是白费口舌的。

They endeavored to make her happy, but in vain.

他们想方设法地使她高兴, 但那是徒劳的。

He proposed to himself to achieve what hitherto he had been promised in vain.

他决定要完成一件至今尚无希望的事情。

John tried in vain to gloss over his faults.

约翰极力想掩饰己的缺点, 但是没有用。

(humorous)Have you been taking my name in vain again?

你又在说我的闲话吧？

They tried in vain to persuade her to go.

他们极力劝她去，但枉费了一番口舌。

I don't like a vain woman.

我讨厌爱慕虚荣的女人。

He's very vain of his abilities.

他对于己的能力很负。

All our efforts were in vain.

我们所有的努力都付诸东流了。

He is vain of his speech.

他对己的发言很得意。

He was so vain and reckless that he would break a friendship, rather than not break a jest.

他是如此虚荣狂妄, 宁可和人翻脸, 有笑话却不能不说。