Browse meaningful Chinese characters for names — pronunciations, core meanings, radicals, stroke counts, and structure.
mixed, miscellaneous, varied; to mix; sundry
power; authority; right
A type of fir tree; also refers to a wooden pole or rod used in construction.
A wooden bathtub or basin; a drinking vessel; also refers to a type of tree.
pole; rod; stick
A trowel; a plasterer's float; to plaster or daub with mud or lime
A wooden fork; a branch; a wooden implement with prongs used for agricultural purposes.
Chinese fir; cryptomeria; a type of coniferous tree known for its straight trunk and durable
A large piece of wood; timber; beam. (Rare character, primarily found in classical texts.)
An ancient name for a type of tree; a rare character sometimes used in names.
A tree without branches; a stump; a low stool
A type of tree; ancient variant of 梓 (catalpa tree); used in names.
Plum tree; plum fruit; a common Chinese surname
Apricot; apricot tree; a surname.
material; timber; talent
village; rural area; rustic
A tool for twisting cords; to twist or wind; also an archaic variant meaning to dye.
A ladle, spoon, or dipper; the handle of the Big Dipper (in astronomy); to pull.
An ancient name for a type of tree; used in place names such as 杔栌 (Tuòlú).
A lone-standing tree; solitary; distinct
A staff, cane, or stick; a rod used for support, punishment, or ceremonial purposes; to rely on or support oneself with.
A large beam or ridgepole supporting the roof of a house; the main structural timber in a building.
A rare archaic term referring to the handle of a loom; also historically used to mean feces or excrement.
A wooden peg, stake, or post; a short pile used for mooring boats or in construction.
A rare character with disputed meaning; possibly related to leveling or smoothing tools; also an alternative form of 扢.
A rare character, primarily used in ancient texts and personal names; meaning uncertain but possibly related to a type of wood or tree.
To stop, block, prevent; a type of tree (birch-leaf pear); a common Chinese surname.
A type of tree (possibly referring to a willow or similar); ancient term for a type of coffin carriage; also has other rare readings.
A type of tree (Chinese wolfberry/medlar); ancient state in Henan; surname
to bind; to tie; bundle
A thick pole or bar; to argue or dispute; to lift or carry together
strip, twig, slip, item, article, clause; measure word for long, thin objects; orderly, systematic.
A wooden beam or girder; a carpenter's term for a structural timber support.
Timber; lumber; wood used for construction
Japanese character for the Chinese '栃' (horse chestnut tree); used in Japanese place names.
to come; to arrive; future
A rare character used primarily in Japanese names; in Chinese context, it may appear as a variant or in specific
Mango — refers to the mango fruit; used in the word 杧果 (mángguǒ) meaning mango.
Poplar tree; aspen; a common Chinese surname
A headboard for a bed; a type of wooden frame or trestle.
tip of a branch or twig; end, extremity; the end of a year or season
A small table or bench; also an archaic place name.
A type of tree (possibly referring to a specific ancient tree species); also historically used to refer to a substance derived from trees used
Hang — refers to the city of Hangzhou; to cross a river by boat; a ferry.
Wood shavings; a type of persimmon tree (distinct from the common persimmon 柿); also refers to a supporting beam in ancient architecture.
cup, glass, trophy; a vessel for drinking; prize or award in competitions.
Outstanding; heroic; prominent
East — cardinal direction; the East; the Orient
bright; shining; high
distant and out of sight; dark; deep
Shovel; spade; a wooden tool for digging or scooping.
A pestle; a club; a stick used for pounding or beating
A type of tree, specifically the Chinese Toon or Cedrela sinensis; also refers to wood from this tree.
A rake; a harrow; a tool for gathering or smoothing
An ancient weapon; a type of long polearm or spear; also used as a variant form of 殳.
An archaic term for a wooden handle or grip, particularly for tools; also used historically in some personal names.
An ancient name for a type of tree; the core or pith of wood; used in names to convey sincerity, inner beauty, or a steadfast nature.
A type of tree (similar to the chaste tree); also refers to handcuffs or fetters; used in classical texts.
Shuttle of a loom; a tool for weaving; to draw out
Ancient term for handcuffs or fetters; an instrument of restraint.
Practical guidance for evaluating characters by radical, stroke balance, and cultural resonance.
Radicals group characters by their core semantic or structural elements. When you filter by radical, you surface characters that share meaning cues and writing patterns, making it easier to shortlist options with aligned symbolism.
Most parents stay within 6–16 strokes so signatures remain elegant and readable. Avoid extremes—overly complex forms slow writing, while ultra-simple characters may feel plain next to a more expressive partner character.
Chinese characters themselves are largely gender-neutral. Perceived gender comes from imagery and cultural associations, so review meanings and radicals together to find characters that match the tone you want.