shoddy goods; flashy but useless merchandise
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
goods that look good but are of poor quality; shoddy merchandise; window dressing
informalOften used metaphorically to criticize items that prioritize appearance over substance. Implies the item is only suitable for display rather than actual use.
Zhè这
zhǒng种
xié鞋
shì是
yàng样
zi子
huò货
，
chuān穿
bù不
liǎo了
jǐ几
tiān天
jiù就
kāi开
zhàn绽
。
These shoes are just for show—they start coming apart after only a few days of wear.
Bié别
mǎi买
nà那
gè个
pái牌
zi子
de的
diàn电
shì视
，
dōu都
shì是
yàng样
zi子
huò货
，
kàn看
zhe着
piào漂
liang亮
dàn但
zhì质
liàng量
chà差
。
Don't buy that brand of television—they're all style over substance, looking pretty but with poor quality.
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Zhè这
xiē些
jiā家
jù具
bù不
guò过
shì是
yàng样
zi子
huò货
，
shí实
yòng用
xìng性
bù不
qiáng强
。
This furniture is merely decorative; it's not very practical.
Tā他
mǎi买
de的
nà那
gè个
shǒu手
jī机
shì是
gè个
yàng样
zi子
huò货
，
yòng用
le了
liǎng两
tiān天
jiù就
huài坏
le了
。
The phone he bought was just for show—it broke after only two days of use.