---
title: "Mingyi Meaning: 名义 (míngyì) Means “name”"
description: "名义 (traditional 名義, míngyì) means “name; capacity (in which one acts)”. Hear its tones, see what 名 and 义 each mean and a real sentence that uses it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/mingyi"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[What does it mean in Chinese?](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning)

# What does 名义 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

名义 míngyì

## name; capacity (in which one acts)

## It can also mean

- nominal; in name only

## Its characters

1. 名 míng name
2. 义 yì justice

## In a sentence

他只是名义上的经理。 He is only the manager in name.

[More about 名义](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%90%8D%E4%B9%89)

## More words with 名 or 义

- [报名 bàomíng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/baoming)
- [出名 chūmíng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/chuming)
- [定义 dìngyì](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/dingyi)
- [含义 hányì](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/hanyi)
- [名称 míngchēng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/mingcheng)
- [名单 míngdān](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/mingdan)
- [名额 míng’é](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/minge)
- [名牌 míngpái](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/mingpai)
- [名片 míngpiàn](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/mingpian)
- [名人 míngrén](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/mingren)

## Keep 名义 for Review

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## Look up another word

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[All 214 Chinese radicals](https://mandarinthewild.com/chinese-radicals)

[How it compares with The Chairman’s Bao](https://mandarinthewild.com/compare/the-chairmans-bao)