名副其实

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: míng fù qí shí
• English Translation: To be worthy of the name (in name and in fact)
• Idiom Composition: 「名」（Name, reputation, or title）＋「副」（To match, correspond, or coincide (interchangeable with 符 in this context)）＋「其」（Its; that）＋「实」（Reality, substance, or actual facts）
• Meaning: A state where one's reputation or title (名) perfectly matches the actual reality or substance (实). It is used to positively evaluate someone or something that truly lives up to its reputation.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「名副其实」 contains the following nuances:

• Positive Evaluation: This idiom is almost exclusively used in a positive context to praise excellence. It is rarely used to describe someone living up to a negative reputation (for that, one might use terms related to being 'notorious').
• The Meaning of 'Fu' (副): In this idiom, 副 (fù) does not mean 'secondary' or 'deputy' as it does in modern Chinese. Instead, it means 'to match' or 'to fit.' Because of this, the idiom is sometimes written as 名符其实 (míng fú qí shí), using the character 符 (fú) which also means 'to tally' or 'to match.'

3. Usage

「名副其实」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Evaluating People or Titles: Used to praise a person holding a certain title or position for possessing the actual skills or character that the title implies.
  • Example:「他不仅学历高，工作能力也很强，是一位名副其实的专家。」
    （He not only has high academic credentials but also strong work abilities; he is an expert worthy of the name.）
• Reputation of Places or Objects: Used to confirm that a tourist destination, product, or phenomenon is as wonderful as its public reputation suggests.
  • Example:「这里的风景美如画，真是名副其实的人间天堂。」
    （The scenery here is as beautiful as a painting; it truly is a paradise on earth that lives up to its reputation.）

Additional Examples:

1. 这家餐厅的三星米其林称号可以说是名副其实。
   （This restaurant's three-star Michelin rating can be said to be truly well-deserved.）
2. 要想成为一名名副其实的艺术家，需要付出常人难以想象的努力。
   （To become an artist in the truest sense of the word, one must put in an amount of effort that is hard for ordinary people to imagine.）
3. 经过多年的发展，这座城市已经成为了名副其实的国际大都市。
   （After years of development, this city has become a bona fide international metropolis.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Orthographic Variations: While 名副其实 (míng fù qí shí) is the standard form, 名符其实 is also frequently seen and carries the exact same meaning. In ancient Chinese, 副 (fù) and 符 (fú) shared the sense of 'matching' or 'coinciding.'
• Confucian Influence: Traditional Chinese thought, particularly the 'Rectification of Names' (正名 - zhèng míng) advocated by Confucius (孔子), emphasizes that social order is maintained when names (roles/titles) and reality (actions/substance) align. This idiom reflects the cultural value placed on that alignment.
• Historical Roots: While the specific phrasing appears in Qing Dynasty (清朝) texts like Langqian Jiwen (郎潜纪闻), the conceptual root can be traced back to the Han Dynasty (汉朝) figure Cao Cao (曹操), who used the phrase 名实相符 (míng shí xiāng fú), meaning 'name and reality match each other.'

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 名不虚传 (míng bù xū chuán): A reputation not spread in vain; to have a well-deserved reputation.
  • 货真价实 (huò zhēn jià shí): Genuine goods at a fair price; used metaphorically to describe something or someone that is the 'real deal.'
  • 当之无愧 (dāng zhī wú kuì): To fully deserve something without any doubt.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 名不副实 (míng bù fù shí): The name does not match the reality; to be unworthy of the name.
  • 徒有虚名 (tú yǒu xū míng): To have an empty reputation; to have a name but no substance.
  • 沽名钓誉 (gū míng diào yù): To seek fame and praise by dishonest means.link

6. Summary

名副其实 (míng fù qí shí) describes a situation where a title, name, or reputation is fully supported by actual facts. It is a versatile idiom used in both formal and informal contexts to provide a positive evaluation of people, objects, or places, essentially saying they are "the real deal" or "live up to the hype."