to clock in; to go through the motions; formalities
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesverb
to check attendance at the 'mao' hour (5-7 am) in imperial government offices
archaicA specific historical administrative practice, now obsolete.
Qīng清
dài代
guān官
yuán员
měi每
rì日
xū需
diǎn点
mǎo卯
，
chí迟
dào到
zhě者
huì会
bèi被
jì记
guò过
。
Officials in the Qing Dynasty had to attend the morning roll call every day; those who were late would be reprimanded.
Diǎn点
mǎo卯
zhì制
dù度
shì是
gǔ古
dài代
lì吏
zhì治
de的
yī一
bù部
fèn分
。
The roll call system was part of ancient official administration.
verb
to go through the motions; to show up perfunctorily; to fulfill mere formalities
informalUsed figuratively in modern context to describe doing the bare minimum, attending something only for appearance, often with a sense of indifference or obligation. Widely used in workplaces.
Tā他
duì对
zhè这
gōng工
zuò作
méi没
xìng兴
qù趣
，
měi每
tiān天
zhǐ只
shì是
lái来
diǎn点
ge个
mǎo卯
jiù就
zǒu走
。
He has no interest in this job; he just shows up to clock in and leaves.
Zhè这
ge个
huì会
yì议
bù不
zhòng重
yào要
，
hěn很
duō多
rén人
jiù就
shì是
lái来
diǎn点
mǎo卯
de的
。
This meeting isn't important; many people are just here to go through the motions.
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Tā他
de的
gōng工
zuò作
tài态
dù度
hěn很
chà差
，
wán完
quán全
shì是
diǎn点
mǎo卯
xīn心
tài态
。
His work attitude is terrible; it's a complete 'clock-in' mentality.