In reality, translation is akin to working for peanuts, since the corresponding meaning of something in one language is often hidden in some deep and impenetrable recesses of the other. As a result, the translator is forced to search all over... Never mind that the picky reader is very difficult to fool.
Mandarin
官僚的工作,真是吃力不讨好。
官僚的工作,真是吃力不討好。
guān liáo de gōng zuò , zhēn shi chī lì bù tǎo hǎo 。
Despite your best efforts, your bureaucratic work was not rewarded.
Mandarin
他竭尽全力地讨好他老婆。
他竭盡全力地討好他老婆。
tā jié jìn quán lì dì tǎo hǎo tā lǎo pó 。