Chinese Conversation · Level 79
91 words
Chinese word
一事无成
Pronunciation
Pinyinyī shì wú chéng
Meaning
- idiomachieve nothing
Example
他努力了很久，结果却一事无成。tā nǔ lì le hěn jiǔ jié guǒ què yí shì wú chéng
He worked hard for a long time, but achieved nothing in the end.
More examples
他换了几次工作，结果还是一事无成。tā huàn le jǐ cì gōng zuò jié guǒ hái shì yí shì wú chéng
He changed jobs several times, but still achieved nothing in the end.
Core concept
A long stretch of effort reaches no completed result, with every goal falling short.
Common phrases
最终一事无成zuì zhōng yí shì wú chéng
achieve nothing in the end
努力却一事无成nǔ lì què yí shì wú chéng
work hard but achieve nothing
Similar words
一无所成yì wú suǒ chéng: Producing no achievement or result despite prolonged effort.
徒劳无功tú láo wú gōng: Wasting effort or action without gaining the expected result.
无功而返wú gōng ér fǎn: Returning to where one started after taking action but gaining no result.
空手而归kōng shǒu ér guī: Returning empty-handed after a trip or attempt yields no harvest or result.
Definition in Chinese
形容没有任何成就，一件事也没有完成或取得成果。xíng róng méi yǒu rèn hé chéng jiù yí jiàn shì yě méi yǒu wán chéng huò qǔ dé chéng guǒ
Word origin
The idiom combines 一事 (yīshì, "one matter") with 无成 (wúchéng, "without accomplishment") to picture not bringing even one undertaking to completion.
Usage tips
- In conversation, this idiom sounds strong and self-critical, so it usually suits a broad period of failure rather than one isolated setback.
Other meanings
- come to nothingidiom
- get nowhereidiom
Opposites
- 功成名就gōng chéng míng jiùsucceed and become famousidiom
- 有所作为yóu suǒ zuò wéimake a markidiom