waa6 ming4話名话名
Jyutpingwaa6 ming4
Yalewah mìhng
Definition
Nominally, only in name, or purportedly.
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
The shop is nominally mine, but my dad actually manages it.
They are friends in name only, but they never contact each other.
Related words
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.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
