名不副實 míng bù fù shí

famous in name only; not as good as said

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

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
實 shí
real; true; really