Gymnocranius griseus was first formally described as Dentex grisues by Coenraad Jacob Temminck and Hermann Schlegel with its type locality given as the southwestern coast of Japan.

The family Lethrinidae is classified by the 5th edition of Fishes of the World as belonging to the order Spariformes.

[2] It has an oblong shaped body with a depth which fits into its standard length between 1.9 and 2.3 times.

[6] This is a silvery coloured bream with between5 and 8 slender black vertical bars on the flanks with the first running through the eye and across the cheek.

[1] This species is found in inshore waters at depths greater than 20 m (66 ft) in sheltered bays and on sand and mud slopes.