waa6 ming4話名话名
Jyutpingwaa6 ming4
Yalewah mìngh
Definition
In the name of (spoken)
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Focuses on a discrepancy between a stated label and the underlying reality. It implies that while a title or relationship exists on paper or in speech, it lacks the expected substance or genuine connection. Use this when you want to highlight that something is merely a formality.
Examples
gaan1 pou2 waa6 meng2 hai6 ngo5 hoi1 kei4 sat6 hai6 ngo5 lou5 dau6 daa2 lei5
間舖話名係我開，其實係我老豆打理。
The shop is nominally mine, but my dad actually manages it.
keoi5 dei6 waa6 meng2 hai6 pang4 jau5 daan6 ping4 si4 gan1 bun2 mou5 lyun4 lok6
佢哋話名係朋友，但平時根本冇聯絡。
They are friends in name only, but they never contact each other.
Related words
Common phrases
waa6 meng2 hai6
話名係
nominally is
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 掛名, which is often used as a verb or adjective to describe a person holding a position without doing the work. While similar, 話名 specifically emphasizes the verbal claim or the nominal status of the situation.
Tone guide
T1High level
T2High rising
T3Mid level
T4Low falling
T5Low rising
T6Low level
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
