吃力不讨好 in English chi1 li4 bu4 tao3 hao3 Meaning

Meanings

  • arduous and thankless task (idiomatic expression); strenuous and unrewarding

Simplified Characters

吃 力 不 讨 好

Traditional Characters

吃 力 不 討 好

Pinyin

chi1 li4 bu4 tao3 hao3

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

吃chi1to eat 力li4surname Li 不bu4(negative prefix) 讨tao3to invite 好hao3good