一无所获

一無所獲

yīwú-suǒhuò

idiom #6,513

Meanings

他找了一天工作，一无所获。

Tā zhǎo le yī tiān gōngzuò, yīwú-suǒhuò.

He looked for a job all day but came up empty.

警方搜查了整栋楼，一无所获。

Jǐngfāng sōuchá le zhěng dòng lóu, yīwú-suǒhuò.

The police searched the entire building and found nothing.

努力了这么久，不会一无所获的。

Nǔlì le zhème jiǔ, bùhuì yīwú-suǒhuò de.

After working so hard for so long, you won't come away with nothing.

memory

一 (one / not a single) + 无 (without) + 所获 (that which is gained) = 'not a single gain.' The 所 structure makes it literary.

usage

Often used after a period of effort or searching to express disappointment. Similar to 一无所得.

一 yī

无 wú

所 suǒ

获 huò