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一事无成

一事無成
yīshìwúchéng
idiom HSK 7 #12,096

Meanings

  1. 1 to accomplish nothing
  2. 2 to achieve nothing at all

Characters

一
yī
one; a single
事
shì
matter; thing
无
wú
without; not
成
chéng
to accomplish; to succeed
Literally 'not a single thing accomplished' — total failure to achieve anything.

Examples

他到了四十岁还是一事无成。
Tā dàole sìshí suì háishi yīshìwúchéng.
He reached forty and still hadn't accomplished anything.
如果不努力，就会一事无成。
Rúguǒ bù nǔlì, jiù huì yīshìwúchéng.
If you don't work hard, you'll accomplish nothing.

Tips

usage
Often used in self-deprecation or as a warning. Carries a tone of regret or frustration about wasted time.

Stroke Order

一 yī
事 shì
无 wú
成 chéng