前功尽弃 (qián gōng jǐn) — all previous efforts are wasted; all the work done so far comes to nothing

Definition

Examples

• 他准备了三个月，但因为生病错过了考试，真是前功尽弃。
  Tā zhǔn bèi le sān gè yuè, dàn yīn wèi shēng bìng cuò guò le kǎo shì, zhēn shì qián gōng jǐn.
  He prepared for three months, but because he got sick and missed the exam, all his previous work was wasted.
• 项目进行到最后一刻，却因为资金问题前功尽弃了。
  Xiàng mù jìn xíng dào zuì hòu yí kè, què yīn wèi zī jīn wèn tí qián gōng jǐn le.
  The project went right up to the last moment, but because of funding issues, all the earlier work came to nothing.
• 如果现在放弃，之前的努力就会前功尽弃。
  Rú guǒ xiàn zài fàng qì, zhī qián de nǔ lì jiù huì qián gōng jǐn.
  If we give up now, all the hard work we've put in so far will be wasted.