routine; mere formality; perfunctory procedure
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesnoun
routine business; regular procedure
neutralNeutral or slightly negative connotation. When used neutrally, it refers to standard administrative tasks.
Ān安
quán全
jiǎn检
chá查
bù不
guò过
shì是
lì例
xíng行
gōng公
shì事
，
zǒu走
gè个
guò过
chǎng场
ér而
yǐ已
。
The safety check was just a routine procedure, a mere formality.
Tí提
jiāo交
yuè月
dù度
bào报
gào告
shì是
tā他
de的
lì例
xíng行
gōng公
shì事
。
Submitting the monthly report is part of his regular routine.
noun
mere formality; perfunctory work
derogatoryCritical connotation, implying that the procedure is empty, bureaucratic, and lacks genuine purpose or effectiveness.
Zhè这
zhǒng种
huì会
yì议
wán完
quán全
shì是
lì例
xíng行
gōng公
shì事
，
jiě解
jué决
bù不
liǎo了
rèn任
hé何
shí实
jì际
wèn问
tí题
。
This kind of meeting is a complete formality; it doesn't solve any real problems.
Bié别
bǎ把
zhè这
xiē些
jiǎn检
chá查
dàng当
huí回
shì事
，
tā他
men们
jiù就
shì是
zǒu走
zǒu走
lì例
xíng行
gōng公
shì事
。
Don't take these inspections seriously; they're just going through the motions.
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Zhè这
fèn份
dào道
qiàn歉
shēng声
míng明
dú读
qǐ起
lái来
xiàng像
shì是
lì例
xíng行
gōng公
shì事
，
háo毫
wú无
chéng诚
yì意
。
This apology statement reads like a mere formality, completely lacking sincerity.