無濟於事 wú jì yú shì

DEFINITIONS

  1. to no avail
  2. of no use

CHARACTERS

無 wú negative, no, not; lack, have no
濟 jì to help, aid, relieve; to ferry, cross
於 yú in, at, on; interjection alas!
事 shì affair, matter, business; to serve; accident, incident