虚设 (xū shè) — to exist in name only; to be nominal and ineffective

Definition

A formal written word for something that exists in name only and has no real function. Common in 形同虚设 ("to exist in name only") and rarely used for everyday speech.

verb
to exist in name onlyto be nominal and ineffective

Examples

  • ，。
    Zhè ge wěi yuán huì xíng tóng xū shè, cóng bú zhào kāi huì yì.
    This committee exists in name only; it never holds meetings.
  • ，虚设。
    Zhì dù rú guǒ dé bú dào zhí xíng, jiù děng yú xū shè.
    If a system is not enforced, it is as good as nonexistent.
  • 虚设。
    Tā dān rèn de gù wèn zhí wèi bú guò shì xū shè ér yǐ.
    The advisory position he holds is merely nominal.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

虚xūnominal
设shèset up

虚 adds a nominal, empty sense to 设, meaning to set up something only in name.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 虛; 虚 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
丘丘qiūhill
Sound part声符shēngfú
虍
虍hū虛xū
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 虛 pairs the upper 虍, which gives the sound, with a lower part shaped like 丘, 'hill'; the simplified 虚 is a later shorthand.

Open 虚 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 設; 设 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
埶
埶yì設shè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 設 uses 言 (speech) to show the meaning and 埶 to give the sound; this explanation is for 設, not the simplified 设.

Open 设 →

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