一事无成 yíshì-wúchéng to have achieved nothing
(idiom) to have achieved nothing; to be a total failure; to get nowhere
How to remember 一事无成: 一 one + 事 matter + 无 have not + 成 to become = to have achieved nothing.
Characters
How it is used
- 'Not one thing accomplished' = to have achieved nothing at all - 忙了一年却一事无成 (mángle yì nián què yíshì-wúchéng) busy all year yet with nothing to show for it.
- A self-deprecating or critical verdict on a whole period of life or effort, heavy with regret. Stronger and bleaker than 没成功 (méi chénggōng, didn't succeed).
- Often paired with 碌碌无为 (lùlù-wúwéi, mediocre and unaccomplished).