名义 (míng yì) — (in) name; titular; nominal (as opposed to real); pretext; ostensible purpose
Definition
名义 means 'in name only' — a title or purpose that isn't real, often paired with 上 or 的. Contrast with 名字/名称/名, which are a person's or thing's actual name, and with 借口, which is an excuse for a personal action.
noun
(in) nametitularnominal (as opposed to real)pretextostensible purpose
Examples
- 名义，。Tā zhǐ shì míng yì shàng de dǒng shì zhǎng, shí jì bù cān yù guǎn lǐ.He is only the chairman in name; he doesn't participate in management in reality.
- 名义。Tā men yǐ kǎo chá de míng yì chū guó lǚ yóu le yí tàng.They went abroad for a trip under the pretext of an inspection.
- 名义，。Zhè ge zǔ zhī suī rán shì cí shàn míng yì, qí shí shì wèi le yíng lì.Although this organization is charitable in name, it's actually for profit.
Grammar
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