费力不讨好 fèi lì bù tǎo hǎo

DEFINITIONS

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

CHARACTERS

费 fèi
HSK 4
expenses, expenditures, fee
力 lì
HSK 3
power, capability, influence
不 bù
HSK 1
no, not; un-; negative prefix
讨 tǎo
HSK 4
to discuss; ask for, beg; demand; dun; marry
好 hǎo
HSK 1
good, excellent, fine; well