go through the motions; perfunctory
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to go through the motions; to do something perfunctorily as a matter of routine; to make a mere gesture of complying with formalities
formalThis formal idiom describes doing something without genuine effort, merely as a formality or to satisfy routine requirements. Often carries a negative connotation of insincerity or lack of dedication.
Tā他
duì对
gōng工
zuò作
zǒng总
shì是
xū虚
yìng应
gù故
shì事
，
cóng从
bù不
rèn认
zhēn真
wán完
chéng成
rèn任
wu务
。
He always goes through the motions at work and never completes tasks seriously.
Zhè这
zhǒng种
xū虚
yìng应
gù故
shì事
de的
tài态
dù度
ràng让
gù顾
kè客
fēi非
cháng常
bù不
mǎn满
。
This perfunctory attitude makes customers very dissatisfied.
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Huì会
yì议
zhǐ只
shì是
xū虚
yìng应
gù故
shì事
de地
zǒu走
ge个
guò过
chǎng场
，
méi没
yǒu有
tǎo讨
lùn论
shí实
zhì质
wèn问
tí题
。
The meeting was just a formality, going through the motions without discussing substantive issues.
Nǐ你
bù不
néng能
zǒng总
shì是
xū虚
yìng应
gù故
shì事
de地
yìng应
fù付
jiǎn检
chá查
，
yào要
zhēn真
zhèng正
gǎi改
jìn进
gōng工
zuò作
。
You can't always deal with inspections perfunctorily; you must actually improve your work.