一事无成

yī shì wú chéng

HSK 3.0 Level 7 Uncommon

Definitions

1. to have achieved nothing
2. to be a total failure
3. to get nowhere

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Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

功成名就

gōng chéng míng jiù

to win success and recognition (idiom)

形容取得很大成就，与“一事无成”完全相反

Related words

1 item

徒劳无功

tú láo wú gōng

to work to no avail (idiom)

强调努力了但没有成效，而“一事无成”侧重结果上无成就

Usage notes

Common mistakes

“一事无成”是整体固定的成语，不能说“二事无成”或改变内部结构。

Formality

该成语略带书面色彩，常用于自我感叹或批评他人，口语中也可用“啥也没干成”表达类似意思。

Example Sentences

1 shown

他忙了几年，却一事无成。

He was busy for several years, but accomplished nothing.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 一事无成

one

matter

to succeed

not to have

achieving nothing