moral duty; moral obligation
Refers to a duty or obligation based on one's social role, status, or ethical principles. Often used in formal or philosophical contexts.
Fulfill one's moral duty as a sovereign.
He acted in accordance with his moral obligations.
justification; just cause; pretext
A reason or principle used to justify an action, often in political or social contexts. Can imply a publicly stated reason that may be a pretext.
They cited territorial issues as justification for the war.
It's hard to act without a just cause for reform.
名分 emphasizes the moral or logical justification for an action, while 名目 emphasizes that a stated name or reason is merely nominal.
just cause; good reason; pretext; justification · duty to one's country or sovereign
From Middle Chinese 名分 (mjieng bjunH), literally 'name and duty/role'. The Japanese reading めいぶん reflects the go-on pronunciation. The concept is rooted in Confucian philosophy, where one's social role defines one's moral obligations.