名めい目もく

also: みょうもく

め

い

も

く

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

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).

彼かれは名めい目もく上じょうの代だい表ひょうに過すぎない。
He is merely a nominal representative.

この

役やく

職しょく

は

名めい

目もく

だけ

で

、

実じっ

権けん

は

ない

。

This position is in name only, with no real authority.

2

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

pretext; pretense; excuse

Used when something is done under the guise of a stated reason, often implying the real motive is different. Frequently appears as 名目で or 名目にして.

視し察さつの名めい目もくで旅りょ行こうに行いった。
I went on a trip under the pretext of an inspection.
彼かれは会かい議ぎを名めい目もくにして早そう退たいした。
He left early using a meeting as an excuse.

Written forms

名目Usage100%
- めいもく
  Standard kanji spelling; the reading めいもく is the most common.
- みょうもく
  Rare reading; mostly found in older or formal contexts.
みょうもく

Kanji

名name, noted, distinguished
目eye, class, look

Similar words

名めい義ぎ
名義 refers to the name under which something is registered or owned (e.g., a bank account), while 名目 emphasizes the nominal or ostensible nature of a title or reason.
口こう実じつ
口実 is a more direct word for 'excuse' or 'pretext,' often used in everyday situations, whereas 名目 can sound more formal or institutional.

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.