idiom (chengyu) HSK 5
Traditional 名不虛傳
one's reputation is well deserved · to live up to one's reputation · fame is not undeserved
Meaning
This chengyu means that someone or something truly deserves its good reputation. It expresses that the fame or praise a person, place, or thing has received is justified by actual merit or quality, not empty hype.
Usage
Used as a compliment when you discover that someone or something is as good as people say. Commonly appears in reviews, testimonials, or when expressing pleasant surprise after experiencing something firsthand. Often used in the pattern '果然名不虚传' (really lives up to its reputation) or '真是名不虚传' (truly deserves its fame).
Examples
- 01这家餐厅果然名不虚传，每道菜都非常美味。, .This restaurant truly lives up to its reputation; every dish is delicious.
- 02他的医术名不虚传，很多病人都是慕名而来。, .His medical skills are well deserved of his reputation; many patients come specifically because of his fame.
Characters
Common collocations
- 果然名不虚传indeed lives up to its reputation
- 真是名不虚传truly deserves its fame
- 名不虚传的(something) that lives up to its reputation
Antonyms
Origin
Literally means 'the fame is not falsely spread.' The phrase has classical origins, combining 名 (reputation) with 虚传 (falsely transmitted/spread), negated to affirm that the reputation is genuine.