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劳而无功

láo ér wú gōngdictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
to work hard while accomplishing little / to toil to no avail
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-a8e923e52a71a1ba. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

勞而無功 劳而无功 [lao2 er2 wu2 gong1] /to work hard while accomplishing little/to toil to no avail/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

Other forms in these source records: 勞而無功

  • 劳
    láo

    (bound form) to toil / labor / (bound form) laborer / (bound form) meritorious deed / (bound form) fatigue / to put sb to the trouble (of doing sth) / (bound form) to express appreciation for sb's efforts (Taiwan pr. [lào])

    Láo

    surname Lao

  • 而
    ér

    and / as well as / and so / but (not) / yet (not) / (indicates causal relation) / (indicates change of state) / (indicates contrast)

  • 无
    mó

    used in 南無|南无[nā mó]

    wú

    not to have / no / none / not / to lack / un- / -less

  • 功
    gōng

    meritorious deed or service / achievement / result / service / accomplishment / work (physics)

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.