empty formalities; polite formulas; lip service
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
empty polite words; perfunctory social niceties; hollow compliments said to maintain appearances
Refers to insincere or formulaic utterances used in social situations to save face or maintain basic courtesy. Often carries a mildly negative connotation of lacking genuine feeling.
Tā他
shuō说
zhè这
xiē些
dōu都
shì是
chǎng场
miàn面
huà话
，
nǐ你
bù不
bì必
dāng当
zhēn真
。
He said these are all just empty formalities, so you shouldn't take them seriously.
Zài在
zhè这
zhǒng种
chǎng场
hé合
，
dà大
jiā家
nán难
miǎn免
yào要
shuō说
xiē些
chǎng场
miàn面
huà话
。
On such occasions, it's inevitable that everyone will say some perfunctory social niceties.
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Bié别
zhǐ只
tīng听
chǎng场
miàn面
huà话
，
yào要
kàn看
tā他
de的
shí实
jì际
xíng行
dòng动
。
Don't just listen to polite formulas; look at his actual actions.