exist in name only; nominal; hollow shell
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
exist in name only; cease to exist in practice; a hollow shell
formalUsed to describe systems, relationships, positions, or entities that have lost their substance, power, or function, retaining only a formal title. It implies a state of decline or emptiness.
Zhè这
jiā家
gōng公
sī司
zǎo早
yǐ已
zī资
bù不
dǐ抵
zhài债
，
xiàn现
zài在
jiù就
shì是
gè个
míng名
cún存
shí实
wáng亡
de的
kōng空
ké壳
。
This company has long been insolvent; now it's just an empty shell that exists in name only.
Tiáo条
yuē约
qiān签
dìng订
hòu后
wú无
rén人
zūn遵
shǒu守
，
shí实
jì际
shàng上
yǐ已
jīng经
míng名
cún存
shí实
wáng亡
le了
。
After the treaty was signed, no one abided by it; in practice, it has already ceased to exist.
Show 2 more examplesShow fewer examples
Zhè这
gè个
wěi委
yuán员
huì会
duō多
nián年
méi没
yǒu有
zhào召
kāi开
huì会
yì议
，
zǎo早
yǐ已
míng名
cún存
shí实
wáng亡
。
This committee hasn't convened a meeting for years; it has long been nominal.
Jīng经
guò过
nà那
cì次
wēi危
jī机
，
tā他
men们
zhī之
jiān间
de的
hé合
zuò作
guān关
xì系
yǐ已
shì是
míng名
cún存
shí实
wáng亡
。
After that crisis, the cooperative relationship between them became nothing more than a name.