Browse meaningful Chinese characters for names — pronunciations, core meanings, radicals, stroke counts, and structure.
Elm tree — a type of deciduous tree in the genus Ulmus,; also appears in place names.
Oak tree — specifically refers to Quercus serrata, a type of deciduous; also used in some place names.
Lintel — the horizontal beam above a door or window; also refers to a threshold or doorway.
Cōng — a type of tree, specifically the Aralia chinensis (Chinese angelica; also refers to a type of wooden peg or stake used in
A last or shoemaker's form; a mold or pattern for shaping shoes; also refers to a frame or support structure.
shoe tree; last (a foot-shaped form used in shoemaking); to stretch or shape with a last
Unknown/obscure character; possibly a variant form or rare character with unclear meaning and usage.
zhen — hardwood; pillar; firm and solid
A type of hardwood tree, specifically referring to the Chinese pistache or; valuable wood used in construction and furniture-making.
A small dish or tray; a thin piece of wood; also used in Japanese media as a character name.
Oar, paddle — a tool used for rowing boats; also used metaphorically for means or instrument.
A wooden tablet or label used for marking or identification; a signpost; to display or make known publicly.
Business, occupation, industry; studies, work; enterprise
Paper mulberry tree (Broussonetia papyrifera); paper; money (archaic)
Shield; railing; balustrade
楰 — a type of tree in ancient Chinese texts, specifically a
Wild hazelnut; a type of tree; also used in ancient texts to describe something coarse or rustic.
Chamber pot; toilet; a type of ancient vessel used for waste.
Plum — archaic variant of 梅 (méi), referring to the plum tree,
Hairpin or ornamental hair stick used in ancient China; also refers to a type of ancient official headdress.
Extreme, utmost, pole; the highest point; to reach the limit
Bracket block — an architectural term referring to the bracket blocks used
Model, pattern, standard; specifically refers to regular script in Chinese calligraphy, the standard form of
Chinese catalpa (Catalpa bungei) — a deciduous tree native to China, valued; also used in ancient board games.
Pillar — refers to the main supporting columns in traditional Chinese architecture; also used metaphorically for important supporting elements.
To knead; to rub; to soften by rubbing or kneading
A type of loom or weaving frame used in traditional textile production; also refers to a wooden frame or rack.
Building — refers to a multi-story building, tower, or mansion; also used in words for storied structures and certain types of pavilions.
Music; pleasure, enjoyment; happiness
A Japanese kokuji (国字) character meaning 'water ladle', 'dipper', or 'wooden bucket
Aromatic, fragrant; used in Japanese names and compounds, particularly referring to fragrant wood or
A structural unit or frame in architecture/engineering; a classifier for roof trusses or structural frames; timber frame.
Japanese kokuji (国字) character meaning 'pillar', 'post', or 'support'.
General; approximate; outline
A small pond; a dialectal term for a small reservoir or pond used in agriculture,
Olive — refers to the olive tree or its fruit; commonly used in the term for Chinese olive (Canarium album).
A type of tree (Chinese quince); used in the term 榅桲 (Chinese quince fruit); also appears in some place names.
Elm — a type of deciduous tree in the genus Ulmus; valued for its wood and shade; metaphorically represents steadfastness and reliability.
Coffin — a box or chest for burying a corpse; also used in ancient texts to refer to inner coffins.
Palm — specifically refers to palm trees, particularly the betel palm or; used mainly in botanical contexts.
Zelkova — refers to the zelkova tree (genus Zelkova), a type of
Sakaki — a sacred tree in Shinto, the Japanese Cleyera (Cleyera japonica); used in Shinto rituals as an offering to kami (gods/spirits).
An archaic, rare character; meaning unclear, possibly a variant form or obscure character not in common
A non-standard, rare character sometimes used as a variant or alternative form,
A wedge; specifically refers to a mineral called sphene or titanite, a calcium titanium
Japanese hackberry tree (Celtis sinensis var. japonica); also used in Japanese personal names and place names.
Yi — an ancient term for a type of tree, possibly referring; also appears in classical texts.
A type of ancient wine vessel or utensil; also refers to a tool used for grinding or crushing.
Fu — refers to the Chinese parasol tree (Firmiana simplex), also known; an archaic character for 'broad' or 'extensive'.
A wooden tool used to straighten bows; an ancient implement for bending or shaping wood.
Ancient term for a type of fragrant wood, possibly referring to a
Mallet — a large, heavy hammer; also refers to the betel palm tree (Areca catechu) and its nut.
Banyan tree — a large evergreen tree of the fig family (Ficus; often symbolizes stability, longevity, and community in Southern Chinese cultures.
Grain, cereal crops; specifically refers to millet and other staple food grains; also used in classical texts to mean 'good', 'nourishment', or 'salary'.
Ancient term for a type of wood/tree; also used in Japanese as an archaic character.
Carpenter's square; rule; standard
Tǎ — an archaic Chinese character referring to a type of fruit
A type of rice cake or pastry, often made from glutinous rice
Hazel — refers to the hazel tree or hazelnut; also used metaphorically to describe something dense, thick, or overgrown.
List; public notice; announcement
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.