以...的名义 (in the name of)

• Pinyin: míngyì
• Formation: 以 + Noun + 的名义 + Verb Phrase
• Hanzi breakdown: 名 = 夕 (evening) + 口 (mouth); 义 = simplified from 義, meaning righteousness

Meaning

以...的名义 (yǐ...de míngyì) means 'in the name of' or 'under the guise of.' It indicates that an action is performed using a particular identity, authority, or pretext as justification or cover.

This construction specifies the authority, identity, or reason under which an action is taken. The noun between 以 and 的名义 can be a person, organization, abstract concept, or role. It can carry either a neutral tone (legitimately acting on behalf of someone) or a critical tone (using something as a pretext). In formal or legal contexts, it often means officially representing an entity. In everyday speech, it may imply that someone is using a convenient excuse. The structure is versatile — it can appear before the main verb or at the beginning of a sentence as a prepositional phrase.

Examples

1. 他以公司的名义签署了这份合同。 He signed this contract in the name of the company.
2. 不要以朋友的名义来要求我做违心的事。 Don't use the name of friendship to ask me to do things against my will.
3. 政府以保护环境的名义推出了一系列新政策。 The government introduced a series of new policies in the name of environmental protection.

Usage Guide

Context: written, formal speech, legal

Tone: formal

Do Say

• 以学校的名义发出的通知具有正式效力。
• 他以自己的名义注册了这家公司。
• 以人民的名义，我们要求公正的审判。

Don't Say

• 以的名义他签了合同。(The noun must appear between 以 and 的名义, not after) → 以他的名义签了合同。
• 我以名义去买菜。(名义 requires a specific identity or authority — it cannot be used without specifying whose name) → 我以妈妈的名义去买菜。

Origin & History

以 is a classical preposition meaning 'using' or 'by means of.' 名义 combines 名 (name) and 义 (meaning/righteousness), literally meaning 'the meaning of a name' — the identity or authority one invokes.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal