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走过场 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
走过场zǒuguòchǎngto go through the motionsHSK 7, unknown, 19 strokes, rank #31977, Very Hard
zǒuguòchǎng(zou3guo4chang3) T3
  1. 1to go through the motions
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March 24, 2026

走过场(走過場)zǒuguòchǎng(zou3guo4chang3)

走过场 (zǒu guò chǎng) means to perform an action in a superficial or half-hearted manner, often without genuine effort or intention. It is commonly used to describe situations where someone is merely going through the motions without real engagement, such as in meetings, rituals, or practices.

Strokes19Frequency#31977DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 'face' (面子, miànzi) plays a significant role; going through the motions can reflect a desire to maintain face without genuine commitment. This phrase may be used in discussions about group activities or formal occasions where the appearance of participation is valued.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person walking through a stage (走过场) but only pretending to act. The character 走 (zǒu) looks like a person walking, while 过 (guò) suggests passing through, and 场 (chǎng) represents a stage or place. Visualizing this scene can help remember both the meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 走过场

zǒuguòchǎng(zou3guo4chang3)
1to go through the motions
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About 走过场

走过场Simplified
走過場Traditional
19Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 走过场

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AI Study Notes for 走过场

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the informal nature of this phrase; it is usually used in conversational contexts rather than formal writing. A common mistake is to confuse it with other phrases that imply effort, such as 尽力 (jìnlì), which means to try hard. Remember that 走过场 emphasizes lack of sincerity.

HSK Study Tips

While 走过场 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it connects to the broader theme of actions and intentions found in HSK Level 3 and above. Students should focus on understanding the context in which this phrase is used, as it often reflects on social behavior.

Common Mistakes

Learners may mistakenly use 走过场 to describe genuine effort, as in 'He really tried hard' (他真的走过场). The correct expression would be to emphasize the sincerity of effort instead, such as using 尽力 (jìnlì) for trying hard.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 走过场

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Component Characters

走zǒuto walk
HSK 27 strokes走
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过guò(experienced action marker)
HSK 26 strokes辶
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场chǎnglarge place used for a specific purpose
HSK 46 strokes土
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How to say to go through the motions in Chinese

“to go through the motions” in Chinese is走过场zǒuguòchǎng

走过场 (zǒu guò chǎng) means to perform an action in a superficial or half-hearted manner, often without genuine effort or intention. It is commonly used to describe situations where someone is merely going through the motions without real engagement, such as in meetings, rituals, or practices.

When to use 走过场

Be mindful of the informal nature of this phrase; it is usually used in conversational contexts rather than formal writing. A common mistake is to confuse it with other phrases that imply effort, such as 尽力 (jìnlì), which means to try hard. Remember that 走过场 emphasizes lack of sincerity.

What learners get wrong

Learners may mistakenly use 走过场 to describe genuine effort, as in 'He really tried hard' (他真的走过场). The correct expression would be to emphasize the sincerity of effort instead, such as using 尽力 (jìnlì) for trying hard.

Write 走过场

走
过
场

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Frequently Asked Questions about 走过场

It's best to avoid using 走过场 in formal communications, as it conveys a casual tone and a lack of seriousness.

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