黯淡无光 dull and lifeless
Explanation
形容事物失去光彩，暗淡无神采。
Describes something that has lost its luster, dull and lifeless.
Origin Story
从前，有一个小村庄，村里有一位技艺高超的工匠，他制作的瓷器精美绝伦，远近闻名。有一天，一位富商慕名而来，想要订购一批瓷器。工匠欣然接受，夜以继日地工作，终于完成了这批瓷器。然而，就在即将交付给富商的时候，一场突如其来的地震，摧毁了他的作坊，也毁坏了那些原本光彩照人的瓷器。地震过后，工匠发现他辛辛苦苦制作的瓷器，都变得黯淡无光，失去了往日的光彩。他伤心欲绝，却也无可奈何。这个故事就如同人生一样，有时，我们付出了巨大的努力，却可能因为一些意外而功亏一篑。
Once upon a time, there was a small village where lived a highly skilled craftsman known for his exquisite porcelain. One day, a wealthy merchant came to place a large order. The craftsman gladly accepted and worked day and night to complete the order. However, just before delivery, a sudden earthquake devastated his workshop and the once brilliant porcelain. After the quake, the craftsman found his painstakingly created works dull and lifeless, having lost their former glory. He was heartbroken, but helpless. This story is like life itself; sometimes, we put in tremendous effort, only to have it all come to naught due to unforeseen events.
Usage
用于形容事物失去光彩，暗淡无活力。
Used to describe something that has lost its luster, dull and lifeless.
Examples
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他的前途一片黯淡无光。
ta de qian tu yi pian andan wuguang
His future is bleak.
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这场比赛，我们队表现得黯淡无光，最终惨败。
zhe chang bisai women dui biaoxian de andan wuguang, zhongjiu can bai
In this match, our team performed poorly and was ultimately defeated badly