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🇨🇳Chinese Source WordCode: ZH

吃力不讨好的工作

Pronunciation / Transliteration: chī lì bù tǎo hǎo de gōng zuò

🇬🇧 Direct English Meaning:
Unrewarding task/ˌʌn.rɪˈwɔːr.dɪŋ tɑːsk/
noun phraseCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #14500 frequency
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🇨🇳 Example Sentence in Chinese:

"调解这场争端是一项吃力不讨好的工作。"

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun phrase
  1. 1

    An assignment, chore, or piece of work that offers little to no satisfaction, benefit, or financial compensation.

    "Data entry can often feel like an unrewarding task if not properly automated."
  2. 2

    Any activity that requires significant effort without providing a proportionate return or acknowledgment.

    "Trying to convince him to change his mind proved to be a completely unrewarding task."
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Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The term combines the Germanic-derived prefix 'un-' (meaning not), the Middle English adjective 'rewarding' (derived from Old French 'regarder', to reward or look back upon), and the Old Northern French noun 'taske' (duty or piece of work). Together, the phrase evolved to describe labor or activities that yield neither emotional satisfaction nor material compensation.

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