n. (Hira=こう) achievement; work; feat, meritorious service, meritorious deed

n. (Trad=功, Pinyin=gong1) meritorious service, merit, exploit, achievement, result, service, accomplishment

n. (Simp=功, Pinyin=gong1) meritorious service, merit, exploit, achievement, result, service, accomplishment

¹ a ball; a handball; a circle; a sphere

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² a gong

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[公] (1) public [official] affairs; public business
(2) a prince; a duke
(3) His [Your] Highness

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[功] (1) merits; services; credit; honor
(2) exertion; efforts; labors

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[空] zero; cipher; naught; nothing; emptiness; vacancy; free of charge

[功-] take much labor [trouble]; cost strenuous effort

[功-] take trouble (for); labor (for); work hard (for); do careful [elaborate] work

shi4 bei4 gong4 ban4
To get half the result with twice as much effort.
Compare with 事倍功半 (shi4 ban4 gong4 bei4).

shi4 ban4 gong4 bei4
To get twice the result with half the effort.
Compare with 事倍功半 (shi4 bei4 gong4 ban4).

tu2 lao2 wu2 gong1
A futile attempt.
Make a futile effort. Work to no avail. Attempting to solve a problem with the wrong tools. Ploughing the sands and sowing the waves. Alternative form: 徒劳无益 (tu2 lao2 wu2 yi4).

tan1 tian1 zhi1 gong1
Arrogating heaven's achievement.
To claim credit for what has been achieved by others.