heoi1 ming4虛名虚名
Jyutpingheoi1 ming4
Yalehēui mìhng
Definition
Unwarranted reputation; a fame or title that does not match reality.
neutralpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Often used to dismiss someone's professional status or social standing when their actual performance fails to match their public image. It carries a cynical tone, implying that the person has successfully marketed themselves beyond their actual ability. It is frequently paired with verbs like 追求 or 貪圖 to describe someone who values status over substance.
Examples
His reputation as a master is just a name; he actually has no real skills.
Do you think this award is well-deserved, or is it just an empty title?
Related words
Common phrases
to have a reputation that exceeds one's actual ability
to be greedy for empty fame
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 假名, which refers to a pseudonym or a fake name used for anonymity. 虛名 specifically refers to a reputation that lacks the underlying substance to support it.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
