中看不中用

zhōngkànbùzhōngyòng
impressive-looking but useless

CEDICT

Entry Composition

1 中看 zhōngkàn
  1. pleasant to the eye
  2. Taiwan pr. zhòngkàn
2 不中用 bùzhōngyòng
  1. unfit for anything
  2. no good
  3. useless
  4. (of a sick person) beyond hope