<p>其 is a possesive pronoun. The subject in the phrase is not mentioned.</p>

<p>空有= have only; 名头= title/name</p>

<p><strong>空有名头</strong> means "<strong>in name only</strong>" (either 'in a position that have no real power' or 'enjoy a reputation that is undeserved')</p>

<p>“其空有名头” = "his/her 'in name only'" </p>

<p>We need more context to decide which meaning we are talking about.</p>

<p>Are you sure it wasn't '空有其名?' because  '空有其名'(only has it's name/ in name only) is a common phrase along with '虛有其表' (only has it's appearance/ in appearance only)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-31T22:23:36.443Z
2017-09-01T16:50:35.950Z
2017-09-01T16:50:35.950Z
Tang Ho
<p>其 a personal pronoun. Here refers to 他/它.</p>

<p>空 here can be interpreted as 'merely'</p>

<p>有 here is the verb in the sentence, meaning 'have'</p>

<p>名头 roughly means 'one's fame or one's title' </p>

<p>Overall, 其空有名头 means 'He（ or it ） merely has his fame/title'. Implies one doesn't have the ability as one is known as, or is not as capable as one is thought. </p>

<p>As for parsing it： 其（subject） 空(adverb modifying 有) 有(verb) 名头(object). </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-31T22:54:47.773Z
2017-08-31T22:54:47.773Z
dan
<p>It means someone only has a title, but doesn't have the actual power. 
Or, someone is known to be good at something, but actually is not. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-31T22:11:26.643Z
2017-08-31T22:11:26.643Z
lznt
<p>I get: 浪得虚名： have an unearned reputation for 空有名头</p>

<p>I parse 其空有名头 as</p>

<p>其 she/he/it/they
空 for no reason
有 have
名头 reputation/(good) name</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-31T23:27:28.813Z
2017-09-01T01:37:32.000Z
2017-09-01T01:37:32.000Z
Pedroski
<p>I've heard this phrase;</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>其空有名头~</p>
</blockquote>

<p>But I'm looking for some clarification as to what it means?
I've tried to break it down and parse it myself but I come up with something that seems quite unnatural.</p>

<p>If I had to guess, I think it could mean something like "in name only" ? Or "just as a formality".</p>

<meaning>
What does the phrase "其空有名头" mean?
# What does the phrase "其空有名头" mean?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-08-31)

I've heard this phrase;

> 其空有名头~

But I'm looking for some clarification as to what it means?
I've tried to break it down and parse it myself but I come up with something that seems quite unnatural.

If I had to guess, I think it could mean something like "in name only" ? Or "just as a formality".

**Tags:** meaning


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## 4 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-08-31. Score: 1

其 is a possesive pronoun. The subject in the phrase is not mentioned.

空有= have only; 名头= title/name

**空有名头** means "**in name only**" (either 'in a position that have no real power' or 'enjoy a reputation that is undeserved')

“其空有名头” = "his/her 'in name only'"

We need more context to decide which meaning we are talking about.

Are you sure it wasn't '空有其名?' because '空有其名'(only has it's name/ in name only) is a common phrase along with '虛有其表' (only has it's appearance/ in appearance only)


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### Answer by username_2 on 2017-08-31. Score: 0

其 a personal pronoun. Here refers to 他/它.

空 here can be interpreted as 'merely'

有 here is the verb in the sentence, meaning 'have'

名头 roughly means 'one's fame or one's title'

Overall, 其空有名头 means 'He（ or it ） merely has his fame/title'. Implies one doesn't have the ability as one is known as, or is not as capable as one is thought.

As for parsing it： 其（subject） 空(adverb modifying 有) 有(verb) 名头(object).


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### Answer by username_3 on 2017-08-31. Score: 0

It means someone only has a title, but doesn't have the actual power.
Or, someone is known to be good at something, but actually is not.


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### Answer by username_4 on 2017-08-31. Score: 0

I get: 浪得虚名： have an unearned reputation for 空有名头

I parse 其空有名头 as

其 she/he/it/they
空 for no reason
有 have
名头 reputation/(good) name


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