名存实亡
名存实亡 (míng cún shí wáng) literally means “name exists reality gone” and expresses “exist in name only”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: ming cun shi wang, ming cun shi wang,名存实亡 meaning, 名存实亡 in english
Exist in name only
Pronunciation: míng cún shí wáng
Literal meaning: Name exists reality gone
Origin & Usage
This discrepant idiom describes situations where the name/form (名) continues to exist (存) while the substance/reality (实) has perished (亡), originating from Han Dynasty political analysis. It first appeared in court historian Sima Qian's assessments of declining institutions that maintained formal existence without actual function. The specific contrast between name and reality reflected core concerns in Chinese legalist and Confucian thought about alignment between appearances and substance. During the Tang Dynasty, it became standard terminology in governance critique. Unlike terms for simple deception, it describes situations where formal structures persist after their practical effectiveness has disappeared. Modern usage identifies institutions, relationships, or arrangements that continue nominally while having lost their original purpose or power.
Examples
English: "The historic treaty remained officially active but was completely ignored in practice"
Chinese: 这个历史条约在官方上仍然有效，但在实践中被完全忽视
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 名存实亡 mean in English?
名存实亡 (míng cún shí wáng) literally translates to “Name exists reality gone” and is used to express “Exist in name only”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 名存实亡 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving exist in name only.
What is the pinyin for 名存实亡?
The pinyin pronunciation for 名存实亡 is “míng cún shí wáng”.