empty formalities; mere form; hollow courtesy
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
empty formalities; hollow social conventions; mere ceremony without sincerity
Refers to social courtesies or polite formalities that lack genuine feeling. Often used in negative constructions (没虚套子、不用虚套子) to praise someone's directness. The variant form 虚套 is also common.
Tā他
shuō说
huà话
méi没
yǒu有
xū虚
tào套
zi子
，
jù句
jù句
hěn很
shí实
zài在
。
He speaks without empty formalities; every sentence is genuine and down-to-earth.
Zán咱
men们
shì是
lǎo老
péng朋
you友
le了
，
yòng用
bù不
zháo着
zhè这
xiē些
xū虚
tào套
zi子
。
We're old friends; there's no need for such empty formalities between us.
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Tā他
zhè这
gè个
rén人
hěn很
shí实
zài在
，
cóng从
bù不
lái来
xū虚
tào套
zi子
。
He's a very genuine person and never puts on airs or uses hollow courtesies.
Bié别
jiǎng讲
xū虚
tào套
zi子
le了
，
zhí直
jiē接
shuō说
zhèng正
shì事
ba吧
。
Let's skip the empty formalities and get straight to the point.