Correct

表面文章

/ biǎo miàn wén zhāng /
Strokes
https://i.cchatty2.com/filters:format(webp)/fit-in/684x0/img/202102/表面文章-Chinese-idioms-Cchatty-6f58ab82-e703-4646-b30c-4f10269053e7-1612778095.jpg

Collocation

1
做起表面文章来
2
是个表面文章
3
只是表面文章
4
搞表面文章
5
做表面文章

Definition

表面文章:

Literally means:

superficial article

Actually means:

It figuratively refers to things that are attractive in appearance but lacking in essence or things that are done perfunctorily just for show. Derogatory.

比喻空有好看的外表而没有实质内容的事情, 或不认真、不实在的,完全是为了应付人家或做给人家看的事情。具有贬义色彩。

Example

Used as object. (作宾语)
1
Yǒuxiē
有些
rén
gōngzuō
工作
rènzhēn
认真
  
,
负责
  
,
jiù
huan
喜欢
biǎomiànwénzhāng
表面文章
  
,
gǎo
huājiàzi
花架子
  
,
zhè
shì
zhǒng
hěn
hǎo
不好
de
zuòfēng
作风
  

Some people do not work seriously, not responsible, like the surface article, engage in flower racks, this is a very bad style.

2
取缔
fēi
非法
wǎng
网吧
de
shì
  
,
men
他们
zhǐshì
只是
迫于
shèhuì
社会
de
压力
  
,
cái
不得不
zuò
pān
biǎomiànwénzhāng
表面文章
  

To crack down on illegal Internet cafes, they have to do something superficial only under the pressure of the society.

3
Xué
学习
yào
shíshízàizài
实实在在
dexué
地学
  
,
shishí
踏踏实实
dexué
地学
  
,
ér
shi
zuò
biǎomiànwénzhāng
表面文章
zǒu
xíngshì
形式
  

Learning to really learn, down-to-earth learning, rather than do superficial articles to go the form.