zhú​lán​r​dǎ​shuǐ

(xiehouyu) to labor in vain; all in vain

Senses

竹篮儿打水/ 竹籃兒打水 zhú​lán​r​dǎ​shuǐ (also zhú​lá​r​dǎ​shuǐ) (xiehouyu) to labor in vain; all in vain

Drawing water with a bamboo basket; used as a metaphor for a wasted effort or coming away empty-handed.

References

same_as 竹篮儿打水/竹籃兒打水 竹篮打水/竹籃打水