Meaning
This chengyu literally means 'the name matches the reality.' It describes something or someone that genuinely lives up to their reputation or title. When you say someone is 名副其实, you're confirming that they truly deserve the praise, position, or description they've received.
Usage
Used in both formal writing and everyday speech to affirm that something is genuinely as good as claimed. Often appears in evaluations, reviews, and when praising people or things. Can be used predicatively (他是名副其实的专家) or attributively (名副其实的冠军).
Examples
- 01他是名副其实的学者，在这个领域发表了上百篇论文。, .He is a true scholar, having published over a hundred papers in this field.
- 02这家餐厅名副其实是本市最好的，每道菜都让人回味无穷。, .This restaurant truly lives up to being the best in the city; every dish leaves you wanting more.
Characters
Common collocations
- 名副其实的......a truly...
- 堪称名副其实can be called truly deserving
Antonyms
Origin
This idiom dates back to classical Chinese literature, emphasizing the Confucian value of 正名 (rectification of names) - the idea that names and titles should accurately reflect reality. The character 副 here means 'to match' or 'to correspond,' creating the meaning of name matching reality.