p8nda
p8nda BETA
Home Dictionary Discord

表面文章

biǎomiànwénzhāng
idiom #50,024

Meanings

  1. 1 a surface-only performance
  2. 2 lip service; window dressing
  3. 3 empty formality

Examples

这不过是表面文章,解决不了实际问题。
Zhè búguò shì biǎomiàn wénzhāng, jiějué bù liǎo shíjì wèntí.
This is just window dressing; it doesn't solve the real problem.
他们只做表面文章,群众并不满意。
Tāmen zhǐ zuò biǎomiàn wénzhāng, qúnzhòng bìng bù mǎnyì.
They only pay lip service, and the public is not satisfied.
反腐要动真格,不能搞表面文章。
Fǎnfǔ yào dòng zhēngé, bù néng gǎo biǎomiàn wénzhāng.
Anti-corruption must be genuine, not a surface-only show.

Tips

usage
Sharply critical — very common in political commentary and internal workplace complaints. The collocations are fixed: 做表面文章 / 搞表面文章.
memory
Literally 'surface essay' — an essay that only skims the surface without substance. Imagine a beautifully bound book with blank pages.

Stroke Order

表 biǎo
面 miàn
文 wén
章 zhāng