为人作嫁 work for others
Explanation
这个成语比喻为别人白白地付出辛苦，最终却不能得到任何好处，如同为别人做嫁衣裳一样。它常常用来形容那些为他人付出却得不到回报的行为，也用来讽刺那些只顾自己利益，不顾他人感受的人。
This idiom is a metaphor for the vain effort that one takes for others without benefiting oneself. It is like sewing a wedding dress for someone else. It is often used to describe those who pay for others but get no return, or to satirize those who only care about their own interests and ignore the feelings of others.
Origin Story
从前，在一个偏远的小村庄里，住着一位名叫阿香的姑娘。阿香家境贫寒，父母常年在外务工，她从小就跟着奶奶生活。阿香心灵手巧，擅长刺绣，但她从小就失去了双亲，生活十分艰苦。她每天辛苦劳作，却总是为别人做嫁衣裳。 阿香的邻居是一位富家小姐，名叫丽华。丽华的父母都是商人，家境富裕，丽华从小就衣食无忧。她经常穿着绫罗绸缎，打扮得花枝招展，身边总是围绕着许多追求者。 丽华的婚事由父母操办，她自己并不关心。她的父母为了给她挑选一个门当户对的夫婿，费尽心思，最终找到了一位富商的儿子。丽华的父母为了给她准备嫁妆，特意去请阿香为她制作嫁衣。 阿香虽然生活贫困，但她心地善良，看到丽华如此幸福，心里也为她高兴。她答应了丽华父母的请求，认真地为她制作嫁衣。阿香每天都辛苦地工作，用金线细心地绣制着嫁衣。为了让丽华的嫁衣更加漂亮，阿香甚至不惜用自己的私房钱去购买一些珍贵的材料。 丽华的婚礼如期举行，她穿着阿香为她制作的嫁衣，看起来光彩照人，羡煞旁人。然而，阿香却没有得到任何回报。丽华的父母只顾着自己高兴，并没有想起曾经帮助过他们的阿香。阿香看着丽华嫁入豪门，心里既替她高兴，又为她感到惋惜。 阿香的故事告诉我们，为人作嫁，最终只会落得个两手空空。我们要学会为自己着想，不要总是为别人付出，最终却让自己一无所有。
Once upon a time, in a remote village, there lived a young woman named Axiang. Axiang's family was poor and her parents worked away from home for many years, so she grew up with her grandmother. Axiang was skilled with her hands and could embroider beautifully, but she was orphaned at an early age and lived in great poverty. She worked hard every day, but she always sewed wedding dresses for others. Her neighbor was a rich young lady named Lihua. Lihua's parents were businessmen and their family was wealthy. Lihua had never suffered from lack. She always wore silk and satin, dressed beautifully and was surrounded by many admirers. Lihua's marriage was arranged by her parents, she didn't care about it herself. In order to find a husband who matched her family, her parents went to great lengths and finally found the son of a rich merchant. Lihua's parents wanted to prepare a luxurious dowry for her and asked Axiang to make her a wedding dress. Although Axiang was poor, she was kind-hearted and happy for Lihua's happiness. She agreed to Lihua's parents' request and carefully made her a wedding dress. Axiang worked hard every day and carefully embroidered the wedding dress with gold thread. To make Lihua's wedding dress even more beautiful, Axiang did not hesitate to use her own pocket money to buy some valuable materials. Lihua's wedding took place as planned. She wore the wedding dress that Axiang had made for her and looked radiant, others envied her. However, Axiang received no compensation. Lihua's parents were only happy with themselves and didn't remember the woman who had helped them. Axiang saw Lihua marry into a rich family and was happy for her, but she also felt sorry for her. Axiang's story teaches us that if you work for others, you will end up empty-handed. We should learn to think for ourselves, not always care for others, and end up with nothing ourselves.
Usage
这个成语常用于批评那些只顾他人利益而忽视自己利益的人，也用来形容那些付出了许多努力却得不到回报的行为。例如：
This idiom is often used to criticize those who only care about the interests of others and ignore their own interests. It is also used to describe those who put in a lot of effort but get no return. For example:
Examples
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他总是为别人操心，却忽略了自己的利益，真是为人作嫁。
ta zong shi wei bie ren cao xin, que hu lue le zi ji de li yi, zhen shi wei ren zuo jia.
He always worries about others, but ignores his own interests. He is really working for others.
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你辛辛苦苦地工作，却让别人轻松享受成果，岂不是为人作嫁？
ni xin xin ku ku de gong zuo, que rang bie ren qing song xiang shou cheng guo, qi bu shi wei ren zuo jia?
You work hard but let others enjoy the fruits of your labor, isn't that working for others?
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不要总是为别人操心，也要为自己考虑，不要再为人作嫁了。
bu yao zong shi wei bie ren cao xin, ye yao wei zi ji kao lv, bu yao zai wei ren zuo jia le.
Don't always worry about others, but also think for yourself, don't work for others anymore.
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我们不能总是在为别人付出，也要学会为自己考虑，不要再为人作嫁了。
women bu neng zong shi zai wei bie ren fu chu, ye yao xue hui wei zi ji kao lv, bu yao zai wei ren zuo jia le.
We can't always be there for others, we have to learn to think for ourselves, don't work for others anymore.
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人生要学会为己着想，不要再为人作嫁。
ren sheng yao xue hui wei ji zhuo xiang, bu yao zai wei ren zuo jia le.
Life is about learning to think for yourself, don't work for others anymore.