无利可图 unprofitable
Explanation
指没有利益可谋求。形容事情没有好处，不值得去做。
It means there is no profit to be made. It describes something that doesn't bring any benefit and is not worth doing.
Origin Story
从前，有个秀才，一心想通过科举考试改变命运。他寒窗苦读多年，却屡试不中。一次，他听说邻村有个老秀才，精通命理，便前去求教。老秀才掐指一算，说：“你命中注定无利可图，难有大富大贵，不如去经商，或许能有不错的收获。”秀才听后非常沮丧，因为他对经商一窍不通。老秀才看他意志消沉，便继续说道：“人生的意义不在于财富的多少，而在于追求的过程。即使无利可图，你也可以从中获得快乐和满足。”秀才听后，茅塞顿开。他开始尝试做一些自己喜欢的事情，例如写文章、画画、养花等等。虽然这些事情无利可图，但他从中获得了极大的乐趣，生活也变得充实而有意义。后来，他凭借自己的文章和绘画，在当地小有名气，生活也过得比较富足。这个故事告诉我们，人生的价值不应只用金钱来衡量，即使无利可图，只要我们用心去做，也能从中获得快乐和满足。
Once upon a time, there was a scholar who wanted to change his fate through the imperial examination. He studied hard for many years, but he failed repeatedly. Once, he heard that there was an old scholar in the neighboring village who was proficient in numerology, so he went to ask for advice. The old scholar calculated with his fingers and said, "Your destiny is not destined for wealth, it is unprofitable, you might as well go into business, perhaps you can have a good harvest." The scholar was very depressed after hearing this, because he didn't know anything about business. The old scholar saw his low spirits and continued to say, "The meaning of life is not in the amount of wealth, but in the pursuit of the process. Even if it is unprofitable, you can gain happiness and satisfaction from it." After listening, the scholar had an epiphany. He began to try to do things that he liked, such as writing articles, painting, and raising flowers. Although these things were not profitable, he gained great pleasure from them, and his life became richer and more meaningful. Later, he became quite famous in the local area with his articles and paintings, and his life became quite wealthy. This story tells us that the value of life should not only be measured by money, even if it is unprofitable, as long as we do it with our hearts, we can also gain happiness and satisfaction from it.
Usage
作谓语、定语；多用于否定句。
as predicate, attributive; mostly used in negative sentences.
Examples
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他一心只想赚钱，对那些无利可图的事务根本不感兴趣。
tā yīxīn zhǐ xiǎng zhuàn qián, duì nàxiē wú lì kě tú de shìwù gēnběn bù gǎn xìngqù
He is only interested in making money, and he is not interested in things that are not profitable.
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做学问不能总想着功利，有些无利可图的研究同样重要。
zuò xuéwèn bù néng zǒng xiǎngzhe gōnglì, yǒuxiē wú lì kě tú de yánjiū tóngyàng zhòngyào
Academic research should not only be geared towards profit, but also the importance of non-profitable studies.
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开办这家公益图书馆，虽然无利可图，但很有意义。
kāibàn zhè jiā gōngyì túshūguǎn, suīrán wú lì kě tú, dàn hěn yǒu yìyì
Opening this non-profit library may not be profitable, but it is very meaningful.