Pinyin:
kōngtóu zhīpiào
Meaning:
比喻不能或不想实现的承诺。
lip service; an empty promise
Character breakdown and explanation:
空头：phony; nominal
支票：check
“空头支票” literally means a bad check. When used as a figure of speech, “空头支票” indicates the inability or unwillingness of someone to fulfill a promise. This expression is often used with the verb “开” as in “开空头支票.”
Example sentences:
他给的条件不过是空头支票，谁知道你去了以后能不能实现。
Tā gěi de tiáojiàn búguò shì kōngtóu zhīpiào, shéi zhīdào nǐ qù le yǐhòu néng bu néng shíxiàn.
The terms he promised are all empty, who knows if those promises will be realized once you get there.
你别老给我开空头支票，今天一定得给我个交待。
Nǐ bié lǎo gěi wǒ kāi kōngtóu zhīpiào, jīntiān yídìng děi gěi wǒ gè jiāodài.
Stop giving me empty promises, I demand satisfaction today.
