xīn​láo​rì​zhuō

to scheme in vain

Senses

心劳日拙/ 心勞日拙 xīn​láo​rì​zhuō (also xīn​láo​rì​zhuó) to scheme in vain

To find oneself in a worse position despite exhausting every mental effort; used to describe when one's scheming or dishonest efforts result in increasing difficulty or failure.

References

see 心劳日拙/心勞日拙 心逸日休/心逸日休