无功而返 wúgōng'érfǎn to return empty-handed Origin Definitions Defs Strokes Stroke Words Sentences Sents 无功 無功 wúgōng to have no merit to have no achievements, credit, or results而 ér particleconjunction [adverbial linker] Connects an adverb-like description to the following verb to show the manner, cause, or basis of an action.返 fǎn verbnoun to return to return; to go or come back to a place