形同虚设 (xíng tóng xū shè) — (idiom) to exist in name only; to serve no practical function

Definition

Literally 'in form, a void setup' — means something officially exists but is useless in practice, like a rule or department that nobody follows. Use for laws, regulations, or institutions that have lost real function.

idiom
to exist in name onlyto serve no practical function

Examples

  • ，形同虚设，。
    Zhè tiáo fǎ lǜ suī rán cún zài, dàn xíng tóng xū shè, méi rén zūn shǒu.
    This law exists, but it serves no function — nobody follows it.
  • 形同虚设，。
    Gōng sī lǐ de jiān dū bù mén xíng tóng xū shè, gēn běn bù qǐ zuò yòng.
    The company's oversight department exists in name only; it doesn't work at all.
  • 形同虚设，。
    Zhè xiē ān quán cuò shī xíng tóng xū shè, chū liǎo shì shuí yě jiù bù liǎo.
    These safety measures are just for show — if something happens, no one can save you.

Origin

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
彡彡shān
Sound part声符shēngfú
井
井jǐng形xíng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

形 is made from 彡 and 井, with 井 providing the sound.

Open 形 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

同 originally drew a pipe. It is the old form of 筒.

Open 同 →

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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