名副其实
- Literal
- the name matches the reality
- Figurative
- When something genuinely lives up to its name or reputation; well-deserved and matching reality.
Where does 名副其实 come from?
It does not come from a specific tale but from a recurring idea in the classics: that one's name (名) and one's substance (实) should agree. The fixed four-character form is comparatively late, but it connects to related expressions such as 名实相副 ("name and reality correspond"), preserved in the "Book of the Later Han": Huang Qiong's biography records Li Gu's letter to him with the saying "under a great reputation, the reality can hardly match it". Today it praises a person or thing whose reputation is fully justified.
Source (出处): 《后汉书》
How is 名副其实 used? Two examples
- 这家餐厅的菜真好吃，是名副其实的老字号。
The food at this restaurant is really delicious; it's a time-honored brand that truly lives up to its name.
- 他工作认真，得了优秀员工奖，真是名副其实。
He works diligently and won the best-employee award; he genuinely deserves it.
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