"Yi zhi kong wen" literally means a piece of writing or a document on paper, but in reality it refers to promises, plans, laws, treaties, and so on that remain only on paper, with no practical action or ability to be implemented. This idiom emphasizes the disconnect between form and substance, and usually carries a clearly derogatory tone, used to criticize the phenomenon of having empty provisions but no enforcement power. It is often used in various scenarios in politics, law, business, or daily life. For example, accusing a certain policy of being "yi zhi kong wen" means that the policy has not truly been carried out. From a cultural background perspective, this idiom reflects the importance placed in traditional Chinese culture on "matching words with deeds" and "the unity of knowledge and action," and it opposes empty talk that harms the country. Its origin can be traced back to the late Qing novel The Officialdom Exposed, which exposed many corrupt phenomena in officialdom of doing only superficial work and not handling practical matters. When using this idiom, it often carries feelings of disappointment, sarcasm, or criticism, reminding people not to be misled by empty words but to pay attention to actual results.
📝 Example
1. If environmental protection regulations introduced by the government lack supervision and penalties, they will only become a mere scrap of paper. (Meaning the regulations exist only on paper and cannot be truly enforced.)
2. The peace agreement they signed, without the support of sincerity from both sides, ultimately amounts to nothing but a mere scrap of paper. (Meaning the agreement has no real binding force and exists in name only.)