名不副实 míng bù fù shí

reputation not deserved; not as good as claimed

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency 40301st word

Definitions

  1. 1. the name does not reflect the reality (idiom); more in name than in fact
  2. 2. Reality does not live up to the name.
  3. 3. Excellent theory, but the practice does not bear it out.

Characters

Character Meaning
名 míng HSK 1
name; famous; place (e.g. among winners)
不 bù HSK 1
not; no; (negative prefix)
副 fù HSK 6
deputy; vice-; secondary
实 shí HSK 3
real; true; really