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
Examples
- 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.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.