míng yì
name; titular
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他以妻子的名义买了一套房子。
tā yǐ qīzi de míngyì mǎile yī tào fángzi.
He bought a house in his wife's name.
这个奖项以他的名义设立。
zhège jiǎngxiǎng yǐ tā de míngyì shèlì.
This award was established in his name.
他以公司的名义与客户签订了合同。
tā yǐ gōngsī de míngyì yǔ kèhù qiāndìngle hétong.
He signed a contract with the client in the name of the company.
名分 (míngfèn)
title
名份 (míngfèn)
reputation
实际 (shíjì)
actual
本质 (běnxì)
essence
The Chinese word 名义 (míngyì) is composed of two characters: 名 (míng), meaning "name," and 义 (yì), meaning "meaning" or "significance." Together, these characters form a compound word that literally means "name-meaning" or "nominal meaning." In English, 名义 is often translated as "name," "title," or "nominal."The word 名义 has a long history in Chinese, dating back to the Eastern Han dynasty (25–220 CE). It was originally used in a philosophical context to refer to the essential nature or meaning of something. Over time, the meaning of 名义 expanded to include the more general sense of "name" or "title."In modern Chinese, 名义 is used in a variety of contexts. It can refer to a person's name, the title of a book or movie, or the name of an organization. It can also be used in a more abstract sense to refer to the meaning or significance of something. For example, the phrase 名义上 (míngyì shàng) means "in name only" or "nominal."The word 名义 is a versatile and important word in Chinese. It is used in a wide variety of contexts and has a rich history. By understanding the etymology of 名义, HSK learners can gain a deeper understanding of the word's meaning and usage.