DICTIONARY · CC-CEDICT

無功而返

简无功而返 · 繁無功而返

Mandarin · pinyin wú gōng ér fǎn

to return without any achievement (idiom); to go home with one's tail between one's legs

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Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

2–1–2–3 · wu2 gong1 er2 fan3

Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

(idiomatic) to return without any achievement; to go home with one's tail between one's legs