work fruitlessly
As a Chinese idiom, the Pinyin is Tu á NSH ā Zu ò f à n, which means that it is impossible to waste one's mind. It comes from notes of Yuewei thatched cottage.
The origin of Idioms
Ji Yun's notes on Yuewei thatched cottage in the Qing Dynasty: "however, it's like kneading sand for food to talk with this generation."
Idiom usage
As an object or attribute; in vain
work fruitlessly
support those in distress and aid those in misery - fú wēi jiù kùn
be endowed with both beauty and talent - cái mào jù quán
leadership rendered ineffectual by recalcitrant subordinates - wěi dà bù diào
gladdening the heart and refreshing the mind - qìn rén xīn pí
making fun of and cursing angrily -- to write freely - xī xiào nù mà