表面文章 (biǎo miàn wén zhāng) — (figurative) mere show; superficial work; lip service; tokenism

Definition

A set phrase meaning 'mere show' or 'lip service' — work that looks good on the surface but has no real substance. Always negative, criticizing empty formality rather than praising it.

noun
(figurative) mere showsuperficial worklip servicetokenism

Beispiele

  • 表面文章
    Tā zhī huì zuò biǎo miàn wén zhāng, cóng lái bù jiě jué shí jì wèn tí.
    He only knows how to do superficial work and never solves real problems.
  • 表面文章
    Zhè ge bào gào quán shì biǎo miàn wén zhāng, méi yǒu yì diǎn yǒu yòng de shù jù.
    This report is all lip service—it doesn't contain any useful data.
  • 表面文章
    Gōng sī hěn tǎo yàn biǎo miàn wén zhāng shì de xíng shì zhǔ yì.
    The company really dislikes formalism of the 'superficial show' kind.

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