Dictionary › 名不副实

名不副实

míng bù fù shí

4-character word Traditional 名不副實

What 名不副实 means

1. the name does not reflect the reality (idiom); more in name than in fact
2. Reality does not live up to the name.
3. Excellent theory, but the practice does not bear it out.

The characters in 名不副实

• 名míngname; noun (part of speech); place (e.g. among winners)
• 不bùno; not so; (bound form) not; un-
• 副fùsecondary; auxiliary; deputy
• 实shíreal; true; honest