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.
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
The name (名) survives (存), the substance (实) has died (亡). The 名/实 pair is one of the oldest problems in Chinese thought — whether words still fit the things they were assigned to — and this phrase is its practical form. What it describes is not fraud but decay: the institution was real once, the title was earned once, and only the label is still in service. Organisations, treaties, marriages and job descriptions all qualify.
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
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
名副其实
míng fù qí shí
Living up to one's name or reputation
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不胫而走
bù jìng ér zǒu
Spread widely and rapidly on its own
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不痛不痒
bù tòng bù yǎng
Ineffective and inconsequential
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口干舌燥
kǒu gān shé zào
Exhausted from excessive talking
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如醉如梦
rú zuì rú mèng
Entranced in dreamlike state
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浮光掠影
fú guāng lüè yǐng
Superficial impression without depth
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差强人意
chā qiáng rén yì
Broadly satisfactory, better than feared
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画饼充饥
huà bǐng chōng jī
Empty promises satisfy nothing
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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: The historic treaty remained officially active but was completely ignored in practice
What is the pinyin for 名存实亡?
The pinyin pronunciation for 名存实亡 is “míng cún shí wáng”.