After learning basic characters, the next level in Chinese is combining them into words, and then idioms. This free guide helps you understand advanced idioms like 「秀而不實」. Meaning and usage are below.
Here, we present the idiom 「秀而不實」. Below, you’ll find its explanation and examples of usage.
Xiu: the crops are sprouting and blooming; Shi: they bear fruit. Flowers bloom but no fruits are produced. It is a metaphor for only learning the basics and not achieving anything real.
The Mandarin pronunciation of this idiom is :
xiù ér bù shí
while its Cantonese pinyin is :
sau3 yi4 bat1 sat6
Chinese idioms, with their vast variety, hold different meanings and uses. Their abundance makes studying them rewarding, and these materials are here to help you along the way.

