go through the motions; perfunctory; pay lip service
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to go through the motions; to do something perfunctorily for show; to pay lip service
derogatoryDerogatory. Describes handling affairs superficially to meet formal requirements without caring about actual results. Often used for meetings, inspections, studies, or safety checks.
Zuò做
gōng工
zuò作
bù不
néng能
zǒu走
xíng形
shì式
，
yào要
jiǎng讲
jiu究
shí实
xiào效
。
You can't just go through the motions at work; you must focus on actual results.
Ān安
quán全
jiǎn检
chá查
zhǐ只
shì是
zǒu走
xíng形
shì式
，
gēn根
běn本
fā发
xiàn现
bù不
liǎo了
yǐn隐
huàn患
。
The safety inspection is just for show; it can't detect hidden dangers at all.
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Xué学
xí习
lǐ理
lùn论
bù不
néng能
zǒu走
xíng形
shì式
，
yào要
zhēn真
zhèng正
rù入
nǎo脑
rù入
xīn心
。
Studying theory cannot be perfunctory; it must truly be taken to heart.
Zhè这
chǎng场
huì会
yì议
bù不
guò过
shì是
zǒu走
xíng形
shì式
，
jué决
dìng定
zǎo早
jiù就
zuò做
hǎo好
le了
。
This meeting is just going through the motions; the decision was made long ago.