無功而返 wú gōng ér fǎn

DEFINITIONS

  1. to return without any achievement (idiom); to go home with one's tail between one's legs

CHARACTERS

無 wú negative, no, not; lack, have no
功 gōng
HSK 4
achievement, merit, good result
而 ér
HSK 3
and; and then; and yet; but
返 fǎn
HSK 5
return, revert to, restore