名不副实
míng bù fù shí
not living up to its name or reputation
Character by character
名míng
name
name
不bù
not
not
副fù
match
match
实shí
reality
reality
Example
这家号称“网红”的餐厅名不副实，菜又贵又难吃。
This so-called “internet-famous” restaurant does not live up to the hype: the food is dear and nasty.
Tone: negative (criticism).
Usage and origin
The opposite of 名副其实 (4-20); 副 means to match, and 名不符实 is also seen. Compare 名不虚传, which praises something that does live up to its fame.
Learn this in Lesson 118 · HSK 7–9: 土坑酸菜 (Exposé: the pickled-cabbage pits)
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