劳而无功 labor without result
Explanation
劳而无功指付出劳动却没有得到任何成果，形容努力白费。
Láo ér wú gōng means to work without any results, describing wasted efforts.
Origin Story
春秋时期，著名的政治家管仲辅佐齐桓公成就霸业，他深知治国之道，也明白有些事情即使再努力也可能无法成功。有一次，齐桓公下令在全国范围内搜集稀有珍宝，打算建造一座宏伟的宫殿。工匠们日夜赶工，耗费了大量的人力物力，可最终宫殿建成后却显得粗陋不堪，远远达不到预期效果。管仲见状后，并没有责怪工匠们，而是长叹一声说："这真是劳而无功啊！"他解释说，建造宫殿需要考虑各方面因素，光靠蛮力是不行的，要根据实际情况，合理规划，才能事半功倍。齐桓公听后深以为然，从此更加重视治国理政中的策略与规划。
During the Spring and Autumn period, the famous statesman Guan Zhong assisted Duke Huan of Qi in achieving hegemony. He knew the principles of governance and understood that some things, even with great effort, might not succeed. Once, Duke Huan of Qi ordered the collection of rare treasures throughout the country to build a magnificent palace. Craftsmen worked day and night, consuming vast amounts of manpower and material resources, yet the palace, upon completion, was crude and far from meeting expectations. Guan Zhong, upon seeing this, did not blame the craftsmen, but sighed, "This is truly laboring without reward!" He explained that building a palace requires considering various factors, brute force alone is insufficient; it is necessary to adapt to the situation and plan rationally to achieve more with less effort. Duke Huan of Qi was convinced and thereafter attached even greater importance to strategies and planning in governance.
Usage
用于形容付出努力但没有取得任何成果的情况。
Used to describe situations where efforts have been made but no results have been achieved.
Examples
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他辛辛苦苦地工作了一整天，却劳而无功。
tā xīnxīnkǔkǔ de gōngzuò le yī zhěngtiān, què láo ér wú gōng
He worked hard all day, but to no avail.
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这次投资失败，真是劳而无功啊！
zhè cì tóuzī shībài, zhēn shì láo ér wú gōng a!
This investment failed, it was all in vain!
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他为了这个项目付出了很多努力，结果却劳而无功，令人惋惜。
tā wèile zhège xiàngmù fùchū le hěn duō nǔlì, jiéguǒ què láo ér wú gōng, lìng rén wǎnxī
He put a lot of effort into this project, but to no avail. It's a pity!