无功而返 Traditional 無功而返 wú gōng ér fǎn 🔊 to return without any achievement (idiom) + Keep this word Meanings wú gōng ér fǎn 無功而返 to return without any achievement (idiom); to go home with one's tail between one's legs Its characters 无wúnot to haveHSK 4功gōngmeritorious deed or serviceHSK 7–9而érandHSK 4返fǎnto return (to)