吃力不討好 chī lì bù tǎo hǎo

DEFINITIONS

  1. arduous and thankless task (idiom); strenuous and unrewarding

CHARACTERS

吃 chī
HSK 1
eat; drink; suffer, endure, bear
力 lì
HSK 3
power, capability, influence
不 bù
HSK 1
no, not; un-; negative prefix
討 tǎo to discuss; ask for, beg; demand; dun; marry
好 hǎo
HSK 1
good, excellent, fine; well