名めい目もく

also: みょうもく

め

い

も

く

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

name; title; nominal

Refers to a formal name, title, or designation, often contrasting with actual substance or reality. Common in phrases like 名目上の (nominal, in name only).

彼かれは

Related words· 6

名めい義ぎN1sense 1

名義 is the name under which something is officially registered or owned, while 名目 stresses that a name or reason is merely nominal or surface-level.

口こう実じつN2sense 2

口実 is the everyday word for a made-up excuse, while 名目 sounds more formal and is often used for officially stated reasons that mask the real one.

建たて前まえN2sense 2

建前 is the official stance or principle one states publicly, whereas 名目 is the specific nominal reason or title given for a particular act.

名めい分ぶん sense 2

名分 emphasizes the moral or logical justification for an action, while 名目 emphasizes that a stated name or reason is merely nominal.

Show 2 more

表おもて向むきN1
表向き emphasizes the public appearance of a situation, while 名目 focuses on the nominal reason or title given for something, as in 名目上は社員だ.
大たい義ぎ名めい分ぶん
名目 is a nominal or stated reason that may or may not be sincere, while 大義名分 specifically frames that reason as a lofty, principled cause.

Opposites

実じっ質しつN1sense 1

実質 means the actual substance of something, directly opposing 名目's sense of a merely nominal or formal designation.

実じっ勢せい

名目 refers to a nominal or stated value (e.g. 名目レート), directly contrasted with 実勢, the actual real-world value.

実じっ体たい

名目 means something in name or appearance only, contrasting with 実体, which is the real substance or content behind that name.

Don't confuse with

面めん目ぼくN1

面目 (honor, face) shares the kanji 目 and a formal register with 名目, but means one's reputation or dignity, not a nominal title or pretext.

名めい実じつ

名実 pairs a name with its actual substance, while 名目 refers only to the outward name or pretext, often implying it differs from reality.

Meanings

Usage patterns