一场空

all one's hopes and efforts come to nothing / futile

one / single / a (article) / as soon as / entire; whole; all; throughout / "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) / also pr. [yao1] for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit

threshing floor / classifier for events and happenings: spell, episode, bout

large place used for a specific purpose / stage / scene (of a play) / classifier for sporting or recreational activities / classifier for number of exams

variant of 場|场[chang2]

variant of 場|场[chang3]

empty / air / sky / in vain

to empty / vacant / unoccupied / space / leisure / free time

using a wicker basket to draw water (idiom); wasted effort