名義

• Reading: めいぎ
• Romaji: meigi
• Kanji breakdown: 名 (mei) — name; 義 (gi) — meaning, title, rightful position
• Pronunciation: /meːgi/

Meaning

Name under which something is registered or held; nominal title; official ownership designation.

Used in legal, financial, and administrative contexts to indicate the person or entity in whose name something is officially registered. Common phrases include 名義変更 (change of registered name) and 名義貸し (lending one's name for another's use — often illegal). Appears frequently in property registration, banking, and corporate ownership discussions.

Examples

1. その土地は父の名義で登記されている。 That land is registered under my father's name.
2. 名義貸しは法律で厳しく禁じられている。 Lending one's name for registration purposes is strictly prohibited by law.
3. 口座の名義変更には本人確認書類が必要だ。 Changing the name on an account requires identification documents.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, finance, property, banking

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 名 (name) and 義 (meaning, title, rightful position). The character 義 here conveys the sense of the officially recognised and rightful designation associated with a name, rather than mere appearance.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Business/Legal