superficial change; cosmetic alteration
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
superficial change; cosmetic alteration; change in form but not in substance
neutral常用以批评改革或措施不彻底，仅仅更换了表面的名目、形式或包装，但核心问题、内容、性质或人员等并无实质改变。具有贬义色彩。
Zhè这
cì次
jī机
gòu构
tiáo调
zhěng整
zhǐ只
shì是
huàn换
le了
míng名
zi字
，
huàn换
tāng汤
bù不
huàn换
yào药
，
xiào效
lǜ率
hái还
shì是
lǎo老
yàng样
zi子
。
This organizational restructuring merely changed the names; it's just a superficial change with no improvement in efficiency.
Tā他
men们
gǎi改
jìn进
le了
bāo包
zhuāng装
，
dàn但
chǎn产
pǐn品
pèi配
fāng方
méi没
biàn变
，
zhè这
bù不
shì是
huàn换
tāng汤
bù不
huàn换
yào药
ma吗
？
They improved the packaging, but the product formula remains unchanged. Isn't that just a cosmetic alteration?
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Zhè这
jiā家
gōng公
sī司
huàn换
le了
xīn新
lǐng领
dǎo导
，
dàn但
guǎn管
lǐ理
fāng方
shì式
huàn换
tāng汤
bù不
huàn换
yào药
，
yuán员
gōng工
yī依
rán然
méi没
yǒu有
jī积
jí极
xìng性
。
The company has a new leader, but the management style is just a superficial change; employees are still unmotivated.
Zhèng政
cè策
kàn看
qǐ起
lái来
bù不
tóng同
，
dàn但
zǐ仔
xì细
fēn分
xī析
，
hé核
xīn心
tiáo条
kuǎn款
hái还
shì是
lǎo老
yī一
tào套
，
wán完
quán全
shì是
huàn换
tāng汤
bù不
huàn换
yào药
。
The policy appears different, but upon closer analysis, its core provisions are the same old set; it's a completely superficial change.