Definition
名义 (míng yì) means 'in name only' or 'nominal' — it refers to a label or title that does not match reality, unlike 名字/名称/称号 which are actual names or designations. In its second sense, it means 'pretext' (often in the pattern 以...的名义), more formal than the everyday noun 借口 'excuse'.
noun
(in) nametitularnominal (as opposed to real)pretextostensible purpose
Examples
- 名义，。Tā zhǐ shì míng yì shàng de dǒngshìzhǎng, shíjì bù cānyù guǎnlǐ.He is only the chairman in name; he doesn't participate in management in reality.
- 名义。Tāmen yǐ kǎochá de míng yì chūguó lǚyóu le yí tàng.They went abroad for a trip under the pretext of an inspection.
- 名义，。Zhège zǔzhī suīrán shì císhàn míng yì, qíshí shì wèile yínglì.Although this organization is charitable in name, it's actually for profit.
Grammar
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