費力不討好 fèi lì bù tǎo hǎo

hard work with no thanks or reward

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

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

Characters

Character Meaning
費 fèi
to cost; to spend; fee
力 lì HSK 3
strength; force; power
不 bù HSK 1
not; no; (negative prefix)
討 tǎo
to demand or ask for; to provoke; to discuss or study
好 hǎo HSK 1
good; well; very