名副其实míng fù qí shínot just in name only, but also in reality

1. 1.

   not just in name only, but also in realityidiom

2. 2.

   worthy of the nameidiom

Figurative meaning

Not just in name only, but also in reality.

• 名name
• 副not compositional here
• 其its
• 实real

No attested origin story

名副其实 often comes in the frame 是名副其实的 + noun, and it can also stand alone as a comment after a description.

1. HSK 3

   他经常帮助别人，是名副其实的好人。

   Tā jīngcháng bāngzhù biérén, shì míng fù qí shí de hǎo rén.

   He often helps other people. He really is a good person.

2. HSK 6

   她会说五种语言，是名副其实的语言天才。

   Tā huì shuō wǔ zhǒng yǔyán, shì míng fù qí shí de yǔyán tiāncái.

   She speaks five languages. She is a language genius worthy of the name.

1. 
   Speaker A:

   你认识小王吗？听说他很会做饭。

   Nǐ rènshi Xiǎo Wáng ma? Tīngshuō tā hěn huì zuò fàn.

   Do you know Xiao Wang? I hear he's a great cook.

2. 
   Speaker B:

   认识。上个月我在他家吃过饭。

   Rènshi. Shàng ge yuè wǒ zài tā jiā chī guo fàn.

   Yes. I had dinner at his place last month.

3. 
   Speaker A:

   他做的菜怎么样？

   Tā zuò de cài zěnmeyàng?

   How was his cooking?

4. 
   Speaker B:

   特别好吃，他是名副其实的大厨。

   Tèbié hǎochī, tā shì míng fù qí shí de dàchú.

   Delicious. He's a chef worthy of the name.

1. 1.What does 名副其实 mean?

   AFamous but not very goodBWorthy of the nameCHaving a long name
2. 2.Which sentence uses 名副其实 correctly?

   A她会说五种语言，是名副其实的语言天才。B我忘了他的名字，真名副其实。C这个名副其实很难写。
3. 3.Which word fits best? 他经常帮助别人，是____的好人。 (He often helps others; he really is a good person.)

   A全力以赴B名副其实C不可思议

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• HSK 3.0 guideHow the nine levels and three bands work.

Related idioms

• 实事求是shí shì qiú shìfig. to be practical and realisticHSK 7–9
• 脚踏实地jiǎo tà shí dìto have one's feet firmly planted on the ground (idiom); realistic without flights of fancyHSK 7–9
• 名不虚传míng bù xū chuán(idiom) to live up to one's famous name; its reputation is well deservedNot on the HSK 3.0 syllabus
• 一举两得yì jǔ liǎng détwo birds with one stoneHSK 7–9
• 一如既往yì rú jì wǎng(idiom) just as in the past; as before; continuing as alwaysHSK 7–9
• 一目了然yí mù liǎo ránobvious at a glance (idiom)HSK 7–9

Browse every entry in the Chinese idioms dictionary.