形式主义

形式主義
xíngshì zhǔyì
noun #44,675

Meanings

  1. 1 box-ticking; all form and no substance
  2. 2 formalism (in art, literature or philosophy)

Examples

HSK 7-9
Kāi zhème duō huì chúncuì shì xíngshì zhǔyì.
Holding this many meetings is pure box-ticking.
HSK 7-9
Éguó xíngshì zhǔyì shì èrshí shìjì chū de yí ge wénxué lǐlùn liúpài.
Russian Formalism was a school of literary theory in the early twentieth century.

Tips

usage
In political and office language, 形式主义 is the standard charge against work that looks busy but achieves nothing: endless meetings, reports and inspections staged for show. It usually comes paired with 官僚主义, bureaucratism.

Stroke Order

形 xíng
式 shì
主 zhǔ
义 yì