How do you pronounce 名不副实?

名不副实 is pronounced míng bù fù shí in Mandarin Chinese.

What does 名不副实 literally mean?

Literally, 名不副实 means “Name not match reality”. It is used to mean “the name does not match the reality”.

Where does 名不副实 come from?

名不副实 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.

What is the Chinese definition of 名不副实?

副：相称，符合。名声或名义和实际不相符。指空有虚名。

名不副实 — “The name does not match the reality”

名不副实 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “the name does not match the reality”. To have a reputation that is not deserved; to fail to live up to one's name or reputation. Literally, “Name not match reality”.

Frequency

名不副实 Pronunciation and Pinyin

名míng
不bù
副fù
实shí

名不副实 Character Breakdown

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
名	míng	6	name, reputation, famous
不	bù	4	not
副	fù	11	deputy, assistant, secondary
实	shí	8	real, solid, true, actual

Example Sentence with 名不副实

这家新开的餐馆号称提供正宗的川菜，但味道却很普通，真是名不副实

The newly opened restaurant claimed to offer authentic Sichuan cuisine, but the taste was quite ordinary; it truly failed to live up to its name.

Origin and Story of 名不副实

Once upon a time, there was a man who named his elder son 'Dao' (盗), which means 'thief,' and his younger son 'Ou' (殴), which means 'to beat.' Both sons were intelligent and capable, much beloved by their parents.

One day, the elder son, Dao, went to the fields with a hoe to weed. His mother, concerned he was dressed too thinly, called out his name, 'Dao!' A passing official overheard this and, mistaking 'Dao' for a call to catch a thief, immediately arrested the son.

The mother then sent her younger son, Ou, to explain, shouting his name, 'Ou!' The official, misunderstanding again, thought she was ordering him to 'beat' the arrested son, and so he proceeded to severely beat Dao.

Idioms Related to 名不副实

Synonyms of 名不副实

tú徒yǒu有xū虚míng名famous in name only

Antonyms of 名不副实

More idioms starting with 名

Questions about 名不副实

What does 名不副实 mean?: 名不副实 (míng bù fù shí) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “the name does not match the reality”.
How do you pronounce 名不副实?: 名不副实 is pronounced míng bù fù shí in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 名不副实 literally mean?: Literally, 名不副实 means “Name not match reality”. It is used to mean “the name does not match the reality”.
Where does 名不副实 come from?: 名不副实 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 名不副实?: 副：相称，符合。名声或名义和实际不相符。指空有虚名。

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