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    不白费功夫 (bù báifèi gōngfu - not waste effort)

    Grammar & Usage

    fixed expression
    neutral

    How it works

    This phrase literally means 'not waste effort'. It functions as a complete predicate or a comment on an action, indicating that the effort expended on something has yielded positive results or was worthwhile. It is often used to express satisfaction or relief that hard work was not in vain.

    Sample sentences

    经过一番努力，他终于通过了考试，真是功夫不白费。

    After a lot of effort, he finally passed the exam; his hard work was truly not in vain.

    我花了好几个小时才修好这个机器，现在看它能正常运转了，就觉得功夫不白费。

    I spent several hours fixing this machine. Now that I see it running normally, I feel the effort wasn't wasted.

    虽然过程很辛苦，但看到项目成功的那一刻，大家才明白所有付出都没有白费功夫。

    Although the process was very tough, at the moment the project succeeded, everyone realized that all their efforts were not in vain.

    Quick facts

    usageContext:Often used after a period of hard work or struggle to confirm that the effort was justified by the outcome. Can express a sense of relief or accomplishment.
    literalMeaning:not (不) in vain/to no avail (白费) effort/time (功夫)

    Mnemonic

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    Example

    经过一番努力，他终于通过了考试，真是功夫不白费。

    After a lot of effort, he finally passed the exam; his hard work was truly not in vain.

    我花了好几个小时才修好这个机器，现在看它能正常运转了，就觉得功夫不白费。

    I spent several hours fixing this machine. Now that I see it running normally, I feel the effort wasn't wasted.

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