费
力
不
讨
好
f
è
i
f
è
i
l
ì
l
ì
b
ù
b
ù
t
á
o
t
ǎ
o
h
ǎ
o
h
ǎ
o
Definitions
1. arduous and thankless task (idiom)
2. strenuous and unrewarding
Components
费力
fèi lì
–
to expend a great deal of effort
不
bù
–
(negative prefix)
讨好
tǎo hǎo
–
to get the desired outcome