Tāmen de hūnyīn míngcúnshíwáng, zhǐshì hái méi bàn líhūn shǒuxù.
Their marriage exists in name only; they just haven't filed for divorce yet.
Tips
history
From Han Yu's Tang-dynasty 《处州孔子庙碑》: '郡邑皆有孔子庙，或不能修事...名存实亡。' Han Yu laments that Confucius temples in many prefectures exist only in name because no one maintains them.
usage
Negative — describes institutions, treaties, rules, marriages, or titles that are hollow shells. Common subjects: 组织, 制度, 婚姻, 条约, 规定. Opposite: 名副其实 (name matches reality).
