竹籃打水 zhú lán dǎ shuǐ

DEFINITIONS

  1. using a wicker basket to draw water (idiom); wasted effort

CHARACTERS

竹 zhú bamboo; flute; KangXi radical 118
籃 lán basket
打 dǎ strike, hit, beat; fight; attack
水 shuǐ water, liquid, lotion, juice