劳而无功

láo ér wú gōng◆idiom
to work hard but achieve nothing

尽管他每天加班，但项目最终还是失败了，真是劳而无功。

Although he worked overtime every day, the project still failed in the end, truly a labor in vain.

◆ What It Really Means
To expend significant effort without achieving any meaningful results or rewards.
Literal Meaning
To labor without achievement.
Literal Breakdown
劳labor+无without+功achievement
◇ Mental Image
The imagery evokes the frustration of working hard but seeing no tangible results, like a farmer tilling the soil but reaping no harvest.
◈ When to Use
A student who studies tirelessly for an exam but fails it might say, 'I worked so hard, but it was all labor in vain.'
◉ Cultural Note
This idiom reflects a cultural emphasis on the value of effort and the disappointment when that effort is not rewarded.
general

To expend significant effort without achieving any meaningful results or rewards.

他们花了几个月的时间准备这个活动，但最后只吸引了寥寥几人，可以说是劳而无功。

They spent several months preparing for the event, but in the end, only a handful of people attended, truly a labor in vain.

This idiom is often used to describe situations where hard work does not lead to success or recognition.

Related Phrases

徒劳无功idiom
to work in vain
白费力气idiom
to waste effort

Pro Tip

Usage Context

This idiom is often used to describe situations where hard work does not lead to success or recognition.

Gold Rule

Literal vs. Figurative

The idiom is not used to describe physical labor without results, but rather any effort (mental, emotional, or physical) that fails to yield desired outcomes.

Word Origin

The idiom combines '劳' (labor) and '无功' (no achievement) to emphasize the contrast between effort and outcome.

Usage Notes

This idiom is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to express frustration or disappointment over unproductive efforts.

Word Breakdown

劳
labor, hard work
root
+
无
without
prefix
+
功
achievement, merit
root
汉英词典