yí一oneshì事thingwú无nochéng成success
To accomplish nothing; to be a failure.
Literal meaning
one (一) — thing (事) — no (无) — success (成)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase describing a lack of achievement.
Examples
rú如guǒ果tā他bù不nǔ努lì力，zuì最zhōng终huì会yí一shì事wú无chéng成。
If he doesn't work hard, he will eventually accomplish nothing.
tā他yī一shēng生yí一shì事wú无chéng成，gǎn感dào到fēi非cháng常yí遗hàn憾。
He accomplished nothing in his life and felt very regretful.
Usage & nuances
A negative term, implying a lack of success or accomplishment in life.
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