# 一事无成

yī shì wú chéng

Have achieved nothing

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Not accomplish even one thing

**Traditional Chinese:** 一事無成

**Register:** Critical · expressive

[Effort & growth](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/effort)

## When to use it

Express frustration at lack of results.

Often exaggerated and harsh as a personal label.

## Understanding the expression

The absolute wording compresses disappointment into the claim that not even one thing has been accomplished. People often use it in self criticism after a period that feels wasted, or in harsh judgment of someone else. Such a claim may overlook learning, care, and small achievements. It is therefore useful to name the actual unmet goal. The expression conveys frustration strongly, but should not be mistaken for an objective assessment of a whole life.

## Examples

他担心多年后一事无成。

### Traditional Chinese

他擔心多年後一事無成。

tā dān xīn duō nián hòu yī shì wú chéng 。

He worries that years later he will have achieved nothing.

别因为一次失败就说自己一事无成。

### Traditional Chinese

別因為一次失敗就說自己一事無成。

bié yīn wèi yí cì shī bài jiù shuō zì jǐ yī shì wú chéng 。

Do not call yourself a total failure because of one setback.

计划太多却不行动，容易一事无成。

### Traditional Chinese

計劃太多卻不行動，容易一事無成。

jì huà tài duō què bù xíng dòng ， róng yì yī shì wú chéng 。

Too many plans without action can lead to achieving nothing.

她不想一事无成，决定先完成一个目标。

### Traditional Chinese

她不想一事無成，決定先完成一個目標。

tā bù xiǎng yī shì wú chéng ， jué dìng xiān wán chéng yí gè mù biāo 。

She did not want to accomplish nothing and chose to finish one goal first.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E4%B8%80%E4%BA%8B%E7%84%A1%E6%88%90)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=832&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [一丝不苟 yī sī bù gǒu Work with meticulous care ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yi-si-bu-gou)

- [一心一意 yī xīn yī yì With undivided attention or commitment ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yi-xin-yi-yi)

- [一语道破 yī yǔ dào pò Reveal the essential point in one concise remark ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yi-yu-dao-po)

- [一朝一夕 yī zhāo yī xī A very short period of time ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yi-zhao-yi-xi)

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