If a person is ineffectual, they do not have the ability, the confidence, or the quiet authority to get things done. Things slip, people do not listen, and nothing really moves. The word often paints character, not just a single failed method: an ineffectual leader, an ineffectual protest, an ineffectual little wave of the hand.

If a person is ineffectual如果一個人 ineffectual, they do not have the ability, the confidence, or the quiet authority to get things done就是缺乏把事情做成的能力、自信，或那種不張揚的權威感。Things slip事情會出紕漏, people do not listen別人不聽他的, and nothing really moves什麼事都推不動。The word often paints character這個字常常是在形容一個人的性格, not just a single failed method而不只是某個方法失敗了: an ineffectual leader像 an ineffectual leader（沒魄力的領導者）, an ineffectual protest an ineffectual protest（無力的抗議）, an ineffectual little wave of the hand an ineffectual little wave of the hand（有氣無力揮一下手）。

It is a slightly literary, judging adjective, a bit old-fashioned next to ineffective.

It is a slightly literary, judging adjective這是個稍微文學、帶評價意味的形容詞, a bit old-fashioned next to ineffective跟 ineffective 比起來有點老派。

Though actually, people do use it of actions and attempts too, not only of people — an ineffectual attempt is one that has no force and goes nowhere. Compared with ineffective, ineffectual more often suggests weakness, fuss, or a lack of presence, not only 'this tool did not work'.

Though actually不過, people do use it of actions and attempts too大家也真的會用它形容行動或嘗試, not only of people不只是用在人身上 — an ineffectual attempt is one that has no force and goes nowhere an ineffectual attempt 指的是那種沒力道、沒進展的嘗試。Compared with ineffective跟 ineffective 比起來, ineffectual more often suggests weakness, fuss, or a lack of presence ineffectual 更常帶出軟弱、瞎忙，或缺乏存在感的意思, not only 'this tool did not work'而不只是「這個工具沒用」。