権ごん兵べ衛えが種たね蒔まきゃ烏からすがほじくる

expression, godan verb (-ru)

spoiling someone's work; useless effort; labouring in vain

Proverb meaning that no matter how hard one tries, one's efforts may be undone by others or by circumstances. Literally: 'When Gonbei sows seeds, the crows dig them up.' Used to express the futility of effort when external forces interfere.

• せっかく書かいたレポートを消けしてしまった。権ごん兵べ衛えが種たね蒔まきゃ烏からすがほじくるとはこのことだ。

  I accidentally deleted the report I had worked so hard on. This is exactly what they mean by 'Gonbei sows seeds and the crows dig them up.'

• 彼かれは何なん度ども挑ちょう戦せんしたが、いつも誰だれかに邪じゃ魔まされてしまう。まさに権ごん兵べ衛えが種たね蒔まきゃ烏からすがほじくるだ。

  He tried many times, but someone always interfered. It's truly a case of 'Gonbei sows seeds and the crows dig them up.'