Chinese word

走过场

Pronunciation

Pinyinzǒu guò chǎng

Meaning

  • verbgo through the motions

Example

别在会议上走过场，要认真讨论问题。bié zài huì yì shàng zǒu guò chǎng yào rèn zhēn tǎo lùn wèn tí

Don't just go through the motions at the meeting; discuss the issues seriously.

Illustration for 走过场 (go through the motions)

More examples

如果只对客户走过场，生意会受影响。rú guǒ zhǐ duì kè hù zǒu guò chǎng shēng yì huì shòu yíng xiǎng

If you just go through the motions with customers, your business will be affected.

Core concept

Visible steps are treated as the goal, while the substance behind them is left out.

Common phrases

  • 在会议上走过场zài huì yì shàng zǒu guò chǎng

    go through the motions at a meeting

  • 只是走过场zhǐ shì zǒu guò chǎng

    just go through the motions

Similar words

应付yìng fù: Handle something just enough to get through the immediate situation, without fully dealing with it.
敷衍fū yǎn: Respond perfunctorily instead of giving something careful and serious attention.
糊弄hù nòng: Deal with something carelessly to make it seem properly handled.
走形式zǒu xíng shì: Perform required forms or procedures only, leaving the real substance untouched.

Definition in Chinese

口语中指为了应付而做的没有实质内容的表面工作或步骤。kóu yǔ zhōng zhǐ wèi le yìng fù ér zuò de méi yǒu shí zhì nèi róng de biǎo miàn gōng zuò huò bù zhòu

Word origin

走过场 (zǒuguòchǎng, "walk through a stage scene") draws on theater, where actors cross the stage during a transition, and came to describe any procedure performed only for appearance.

Usage tips

  • The word is useful when English speakers might otherwise describe a brief or incomplete task as merely rushed, because it specifically points to an empty display of procedure.

Other meanings

  • mere formalitynoun
  • shownoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word