Usage patterns 〈 事こと 〉 という 名めい 目もく で under the pretext/name of doing ~
He took an overseas trip under the pretext of an 'inspection tour.'
名めい 目もく 上じょう の 〈 人ひと ・ 物もの 〉 nominal, in title only
He is president in name only; his son actually runs the company.
〈 事こと 〉 を 名めい 目もく にして using ~ as a pretext
He used a meeting as a pretext to leave work early.
名めい 目もく を 立た てる to come up with a pretext/justification
He came up with some pretext and took a day off.
Kanji 名 name, noted, distinguished Related words· 6 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 Show fewer 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 .
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 実質 means the actual substance of something, directly opposing 名目 's sense of a merely nominal or formal designation.
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.
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.
Word family· 9 nominal; in name only
nominal; in name only
tokenism
nominal wages
nominal GDP
Show 4 more Show fewer Etymology Compound of 名 (name) and 目 (item, category). The reading めいもく is the standard Sino-Japanese reading; みょうもく is a less common variant reading.
Report an issue with this page
Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
