有名无实

有名無實

yǒumíngwúshí

idiom #41,335

Meanings

1 having a name but no substance
2 in name only; nominal; existing only on paper

Characters

name; reputation

reality; substance

Examples

他这个总经理有名无实，所有决定都得请示董事长。

Tā zhège zǒngjīnglǐ yǒumíngwúshí, suǒyǒu juédìng dōu děi qǐngshì dǒngshìzhǎng.

His title of General Manager is just nominal — every decision has to be cleared with the chairman.

这个委员会有名无实，根本不发挥作用。

Zhège wěiyuánhuì yǒumíngwúshí, gēnběn bù fāhuī zuòyòng.

This committee exists in name only — it doesn't actually function.

Tips

history

Echoes 《国语·晋语》: 吾有卿之名而无其实 — 'I have the title of minister but not the reality.' The contrast 名/实 (name vs. substance) is a classical philosophical pair.

grammar

Common patterns: X 有名无实 ('X is nominal'), or 有名无实的 X ('a nominal X'). Frequently applied to titles, organizations, agreements, or relationships.

Stroke Order

有 yǒu

名 míng

无 wú

实 shí