rack one 's brains in vain
In Chinese, Pinyin is w ǎ NGF è IX ī NJ ì, which means to waste one's mind. From a dream of Red Mansions.
The origin of Idioms
Chapter 106 of a dream of Red Mansions: "now I've spent all my life in vain, but I've fallen behind."
Idiom usage
It's a waste of time.
rack one 's brains in vain
allow oneself to be insulted to remain alive - rěn chǐ tōu shēng
confusion and disorder of state affairs - tiáo táng fèi gēng
a marriage between families of equal social rank - mén dāng hù duì