花架子

huājiàzi

noun #71,911

Meanings

1 fancy but useless moves (in martial arts)
2 show without substance
3 mere formality

Characters

Examples

HSK 7-9

他的拳脚都是花架子，真打起来不行。

Tā de quánjiǎo dōu shì huājiàzi, zhēn dǎ qǐlai bùxíng.

His punches and kicks are all for show; in a real fight they're useless.

HSK 7-9

工作要讲实效，不要搞花架子。

Gōngzuò yào jiǎng shíxiào, búyào gǎo huājiàzi.

Work should be about real results, not empty show.

Tips

mistakes

花架 without 子 is a plant stand or a pergola. 花架子 is figurative: moves, projects or plans that look good and do nothing. It often comes after 摆 or 搞: 摆花架子 'to put on a show'.

Stroke Order

花 huā

架 jià

子 zǐ