====== fūyǎnliǎoshì: 敷衍了事 - To Go Through the Motions, Perfunctory, Half-hearted ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** fuyǎnliǎoshì, fūyǎnliǎoshì, 敷衍了事, go through the motions, perfunctory, half-hearted, do a sloppy job, mail it in, phone it in, Chinese idiom, chengyu, work ethic, carelessness
  * **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese idiom (chengyu) **敷衍了事 (fūyǎnliǎoshì)**, which describes the act of doing a task half-heartedly just to get it over with. This page breaks down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical usage in modern China, with 10 example sentences to show you how to criticize shoddy work, complain about bad service, or describe a lack of commitment in a way that sounds natural and fluent.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** fūyǎnliǎoshì
  * **Part of Speech:** Chengyu (Chinese Idiom); Verb Phrase
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 6
  * **Concise Definition:** To perform a task in a careless, superficial, or unenthusiastic way simply to be done with it.
  * **In a Nutshell:** Imagine your boss asks you to clean the office. Instead of truly cleaning, you just quickly wipe one table, hide the clutter in a closet, and say "I'm done!" That attitude of just checking a box without any real care or effort is the core of **敷衍了事**. It's not about being unable to do the job well; it's about choosing not to, prioritizing completion over quality.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **敷 (fū):** To spread thinly, to apply (like cream). Here, it implies spreading your effort thinly.
  * **衍 (yǎn):** To spread out, to be superfluous. Combined with 敷, **敷衍 (fūyǎn)** means to be perfunctory, to gloss over details, or to just do the bare minimum to get someone off your back.
  * **了 (liǎo):** To finish or complete.
  * **事 (shì):** A matter, a task, an affair. Combined with 了, **了事 (liǎoshì)** means to conclude a matter.
Putting them all together, **敷衍了事 (fūyǎnliǎoshì)** literally translates to "to finish a matter in a superficial, spread-thin way." It paints a vivid picture of someone just going through the motions.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
In a culture that deeply values diligence (`勤奋`), responsibility (`责任感`), and craftsmanship (`工匠精神`), **敷衍了事** is a potent criticism. It's the antithesis of the ideal worker or partner. To accuse someone of this is to question their professionalism, their attitude, and even their character.
A useful Western comparison is the phrase "to phone it in" or "to mail it in." Both describe a lack of effort and enthusiasm. However, **敷衍了事** can carry a stronger weight of neglecting one's duty. While "phoning it in" might just imply boredom or burnout, **敷衍了事** often suggests a more conscious disregard for the expectations of the role, whether it's an employee's duty to their company, a business's duty to its customers, or a government official's duty to the public. It's a failure to meet a social and professional obligation, which can be seen as a sign of disrespect.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
This idiom is extremely common and always carries a negative connotation. It's used as a criticism or a self-deprecating admission of poor performance.
  * **In the Workplace:** This is its most common habitat. It's used to complain about lazy colleagues, departments that produce sloppy work, or bosses who don't take employee concerns seriously.
  * **In Customer Service:** It perfectly describes an unhelpful, bored, or dismissive employee at a bank, shop, or government office.
  * **In Personal Life:** You can use it to accuse a friend or partner of not taking a promise, an apology, or a relationship seriously. For example, buying a cheap gift at the last minute for an anniversary could be seen as **敷衍了事**.
  * **In Academics:** A student who copies and pastes a report without understanding it is a classic example of **敷衍了事**.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 他对工作的态度总是**敷衍了事**，老板很不满意。
    * Pinyin: Tā duì gōngzuò de tàidù zǒngshì **fūyǎnliǎoshì**, lǎobǎn hěn bù mǎnyì.
    * English: His attitude towards work is always perfunctory, and the boss is very dissatisfied.
    * Analysis: A classic workplace complaint. This clearly states that the person's problem is their half-hearted attitude, not their ability.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 你不能用一句“对不起”就**敷衍了事**，我需要一个真正的解释。
    * Pinyin: Nǐ bùnéng yòng yí jù “duìbùqǐ” jiù **fūyǎnliǎoshì**, wǒ xūyào yí ge zhēnzhèng de jiěshì.
    * English: You can't just go through the motions with a single "sorry"; I need a real explanation.
    * Analysis: This shows the term used in a personal, emotional context. The apology is seen as superficial and insincere.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 这份报告错误百出，一看就是**敷衍了事**的结果。
    * Pinyin: Zhè fèn bàogào cuòwù bǎichū, yí kàn jiù shì **fūyǎnliǎoshì** de jiéguǒ.
    * English: This report is full of mistakes; you can tell at a glance it's the result of a half-hearted effort.
    * Analysis: Here, the idiom is used to describe the *outcome* of a perfunctory attitude.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 作为医生，对待病人绝对不能**敷衍了事**。
    * Pinyin: Zuòwéi yīshēng, duìdài bìngrén juéduì bùnéng **fūyǎnliǎoshì**.
    * English: As a doctor, you absolutely cannot be perfunctory when treating patients.
    * Analysis: This example highlights the high stakes associated with this attitude in certain professions. It stresses a moral or ethical obligation for diligence.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 我问他问题，他只是嗯嗯啊啊地回答，太**敷衍了事**了。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ wèn tā wèntí, tā zhǐshì ēn ēn a a de huídá, tài **fūyǎnliǎoshì** le.
    * English: I asked him a question, and he just grunted in response. It was so dismissive and perfunctory.
    * Analysis: This demonstrates how the term can describe communication, not just physical tasks. The response lacks substance and shows a lack of engagement.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 很多学生为了完成作业而**敷衍了事**，并没有真正学到知识。
    * Pinyin: Hěnduō xuéshēng wèile wánchéng zuòyè ér **fūyǎnliǎoshì**, bìng méiyǒu zhēnzhèng xuédào zhīshi.
    * English: Many students just go through the motions to finish their homework and don't actually learn the material.
    * Analysis: A common criticism within the education system, focusing on the difference between completing a task and achieving its purpose.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 政府部门不应该**敷衍了事**地处理公民的投诉。
    * Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ bùmén bù yīnggāi **fūyǎnliǎoshì** de chǔlǐ gōngmín de tóusù.
    * English: Government departments should not handle citizen complaints in a perfunctory manner.
    * Analysis: This shows the term used in a formal, civic context, criticizing bureaucracy and lack of accountability.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 我宁愿花更多时间把事情做好，也不想**敷衍了事**。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ nìngyuàn huā gèng duō shíjiān bǎ shìqing zuò hǎo, yě bù xiǎng **fūyǎnliǎoshì**.
    * English: I would rather spend more time to do things well than just do a sloppy job to get it done.
    * Analysis: This sentence frames the idiom as a personal standard to avoid. It expresses a commitment to quality.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 如果你用这种**敷衍了事**的态度对待我们的感情，我们还不如分手。
    * Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ yòng zhè zhǒng **fūyǎnliǎoshì** de tàidù duìdài wǒmen de gǎnqíng, wǒmen hái bùrú fēnshǒu.
    * English: If you're going to treat our relationship with this half-hearted attitude, we might as well break up.
    * Analysis: A very serious use in a relationship context, equating a lack of effort with a lack of love or commitment.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 这家公司的售后服务很差，员工总是想办法**敷衍了事**。
    * Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī de shòuhòu fúwù hěn chà, yuángōng zǒngshì xiǎng bànfǎ **fūyǎnliǎoshì**.
    * English: This company's after-sales service is terrible; the employees are always trying to find ways to fob you off.
    * Analysis: A common consumer complaint. It implies a systematic, intentional effort to do the minimum possible.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **`敷衍了事` vs. `马虎 (mǎhu)`:** This is a key distinction. `马虎 (mǎhu)` means "careless" or "sloppy" and usually refers to making mistakes due to a lack of attention. For example, "我太马虎了，忘了带钥匙" (I was so careless, I forgot my keys). `敷衍了事` is about the *attitude* and *intent* behind the action. It's a conscious choice to not apply effort. You can do a task without making any obvious mistakes but still be **敷衍了事** because your heart wasn't in it. `马虎` is about the flawed result; `敷衍了事` is about the flawed process.
  * **"False Friend" Warning:** Do not confuse **敷衍了事** with the English phrase "to make do." "To make do" means to manage with limited resources (e.g., "We don't have a projector, so we'll have to make do with printouts."). It has a neutral or even resourceful connotation. **敷衍了事** is always negative, implying one *has* the resources (time, ability, materials) but chooses not to use them properly out of laziness or indifference.
  * **Incorrect Usage:**
    * **Wrong:** 我不会做饭，所以只能**敷衍了事**地做了一个三明治。(Wǒ bú huì zuòfàn, suǒyǐ zhǐ néng fūyǎnliǎoshì de zuòle yí ge sānmíngzhì.)
    * **Why it's wrong:** This sentence implies the reason for the simple meal is a *lack of ability* ("I can't cook"). **敷衍了事** implies a *lack of willingness*. The person didn't choose to be lazy; they were limited by their skill.
    * **Better:** 我不会做饭，所以只能**随便**做了一个三明治。(Wǒ bú huì zuòfàn, suǒyǐ zhǐ néng suíbiàn zuòle yí ge sānmíngzhì.) - "I can't cook, so I just casually made a sandwich."
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[马虎]] (mǎhu) - Careless, sloppy. Focuses more on accidental mistakes that result from a lack of care.
  * [[草草了事]] (cǎocǎo liǎoshì) - To finish a task hastily and carelessly. A very close synonym, with a stronger emphasis on speed and rushing.
  * [[应付]] (yìngfu) - To deal with, to handle. As a verb, it can mean "to go through the motions" or "to fob someone off," capturing a similar idea but in a more versatile verb form.
  * [[偷工减料]] (tōugōngjiǎnliào) - Lit. "to steal work and reduce materials." To skimp on work and cut corners. A more severe and often deceptive form of **敷衍了事**, especially in construction or manufacturing.
  * [[得过且过]] (déguòqiěguò) - To muddle along; to get by however one can. This describes a passive life philosophy, while **敷衍了事** is the application of that philosophy to a specific task.
  * [[认真]] (rènzhēn) - Conscientious, serious, earnest. The direct antonym, describing someone who takes tasks seriously and does them with care.
  * [[一丝不苟]] (yīsībùgǒu) - Meticulous; scrupulous; lit. "not even one thread is neglected." A powerful antonym describing extreme attention to detail and high standards.