一事无成

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: yí shì wú chéng
• English Translation: To accomplish nothing, to achieve no success
• Idiom Composition: 「一」（One）＋「事」（Matter, affair）＋「无」（Nothing, without）＋「成」（To accomplish, to succeed）
• Meaning: To accomplish nothing at all. It describes a state of achieving no results despite investing effort and time. It is often used in self-deprecation or criticism of others.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「一事无成」 contains the following nuances:

• Complete failure: Refers to a state of complete failure where nothing goes right and no results are obtained.
• Emphasis on incompetence: Implies that results cannot be achieved due to a lack of ability or effort.
• Disappointment and discouragement: Expresses feelings of disappointment and discouragement when results do not follow despite long-term efforts.
• Self-deprecation and criticism: Used to express one's own or others' incompetence or laziness, either self-deprecatingly or critically.

3. Usage

「一事无成」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Self-assessment: Used to self-deprecatingly express a lack of achievement when reflecting on one's past or present.
  • Example:「这几年我真是一事无成，一无所获。」
    （In these past few years, I have truly accomplished nothing and gained nothing.）
• Evaluating others: Used to negatively evaluate the abilities or achievements of others.
  • Example:「他在这个项目上忙了半年，结果却一事无成。」
    （He worked on this project for half a year, but in the end, he achieved nothing.）
• Describing a situation: Describes a situation or effort that is producing no results at all.
  • Example:「这个计划实施以来，一事无成，浪费了大量的人力物力。」
    （Since this plan was implemented, it has achieved nothing and wasted a great deal of manpower and resources.）

Additional Examples:

1. 尽管他付出了很多努力，但最终还是一事无成。
   （Despite his great efforts, he ultimately accomplished nothing.）
2. 他总是抱怨自己一事无成，却从不反思自己的问题。
   （He always complains that he accomplishes nothing, but never reflects on his own problems.）
3. 在这个竞争激烈的社会，如果你不努力进取，就很容易一事无成。
   （In this highly competitive society, if you don't strive to improve, you will easily accomplish nothing.）
4. 他曾经怀揣着远大的梦想，但现实却让他一事无成。
   （He once cherished great dreams, but reality left him with no achievements.）
5. 不要害怕失败，即使暂时一事无成，也要坚持下去。
   （Don't be afraid of failure; even if you temporarily accomplish nothing, you must persevere.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Result-oriented culture: '一事无成' reflects the result-oriented values prevalent in Chinese society, where outcomes are highly valued and failure to achieve results is viewed negatively.
• Humility and self-deprecation: While humility is a virtue in Chinese culture, self-deprecating expressions are also common. '一事无成' can be used to belittle oneself while expressing a desire to improve the current situation.
• Avoid excessive use: Because '一事无成' carries a strong negative connotation, overusing it can give an impression of low confidence or pessimism. Special care should be taken not to offend others when using it to describe them.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 碌碌无为 (lù lù wú wéi): Mediocre and without any achievements.
  • 一无所获 (yì wú suǒ huò): To gain nothing.
  • 一无所成 (yì wú suǒ chéng): To achieve nothing.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 功成名就 (gōng chéng míng jiù): To achieve success and fame.
  • 硕果累累 (shuò guǒ léi léi): To achieve great results one after another.
  • 功绩卓著 (gōng jì zhuó zhù): To have outstanding achievements.

6. Summary

'一事无成' is an idiom with a strong negative meaning, referring to a state of achieving no results despite investing effort and time. Against the backdrop of result-oriented values and a culture of humility and self-deprecation in Chinese society, it is used in various situations such as self-assessment, evaluating others, and describing situations. However, due to its strong negative nuance, excessive use should be avoided, and special care must be taken not to offend others when using it towards them. To use this idiom appropriately, it is necessary to understand its cultural background and use it cautiously according to the context.