名不虚传
- Literal
- the fame does not spread falsely
- Figurative
- To live up to the reputation you had heard of, said on seeing it firsthand; 名副其实, by contrast, says a name or title fits reality.
Where does 名不虚传 come from?
It does not come from a specific anecdote, but the idea is already in the 《史记》: in the chapter on the knights-errant, Sima Qian says of those of the early Han that, although they sometimes broke the law, their personal integrity deserved praise and their fame had not been raised in vain (名不虚立). 名 means "name, fame," 虚 "empty, false" and 传 "to spread by word of mouth": the fame going around was not hollow. It is usually said after seeing or trying something in person, often with 果然 ("sure enough") in front, to acknowledge that the reality has matched what one had heard.
Source (出处): 《史记·游侠列传》
How is 名不虚传 used? Two examples
- 早就听说这家的烤鸭好吃，今天一尝，果然名不虚传。
I'd been hearing about the roast duck here for ages; I tried it today, and it really does live up to its reputation.
- 都说新来的设计师很厉害，看了他的方案才知道名不虚传。
Everyone said the new designer was brilliant, and once I saw his proposal I knew the reputation was well earned.
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