Browse meaningful Chinese characters for names — pronunciations, core meanings, radicals, stroke counts, and structure.
A type of tree, specifically the Chinese tallow tree (Sapium sebiferum); also refers to a type of wood used in ancient times.
Yuan — an ancient type of tree; used in historical texts and names.
Zi — an archaic character meaning 'catalpa tree' or 'wooden board'; variant form of 梓.
Chinese quince — a type of flowering plant in the rose family,
Unhewn wood; raw, uncarved timber; in its natural state.
Jia — an ancient term for a wooden frame or support; also used in names.
Yao — name of a mythical tree in ancient Chinese mythology, particularly
Perch for fowls; a roost; a bird's resting place.
A horizontal bar or beam; a window lattice or frame; a wooden rack or stand.
Main body or trunk of a tree; stem; core
Chinese torreya (Torreya grandis); a type of evergreen tree native to China, valued for its edible
To press, extract, or squeeze out liquid or oil; to exploit or extort; refers to pressing devices like oil presses.
A wooden beam or rafter used in traditional Chinese architecture; a specific type of timber component in building construction.
A type of tree; used in the name of the madder plant (Rubia cordifolia); also used in the simplified Chinese character for 'mother' (妈).
Tenon — a projecting piece of wood made for insertion into a
A type of ancient chariot or carriage; also refers to a surname.
Pavilion — an open-sided structure, often built on a platform over water
Glory, honor, prosperity; flourishing, thriving; to be proud of
To make a tree stand upright; to support a tree; newly planted tree
to prop up; to support; foundation
Rafter — a structural beam in traditional Chinese architecture that supports the
Quince — refers to the quince fruit (Cydonia oblonga) or the Chinese; also used in traditional Chinese medicine.
A type of tree or timber; used in classical Chinese texts, possibly referring to a specific species of
Pomegranate — a deciduous shrub or small tree bearing red fruit with; also refers to the fruit itself, often symbolizing fertility and abundance.
A type of tree or shrub, possibly referring to a specific species
Tang — refers to a type of sugar; also used in ancient texts for certain sweet substances or sugary products.
To monopolize; to levy taxes; to discuss and decide
tree stump; withered tree trunk; dead tree
A type of tree, specifically a wild pear tree or a type; also refers to a wooden tool or implement.
A wooden part of a loom; the warp beam that holds the warp threads under tension.
A low, long, narrow bed or couch; a daybed; often refers to ancient-style wooden beds used in traditional Chinese settings.
Ancient wine vessel; a type of ancient container or goblet used for drinking wine in
A type of tree mentioned in ancient texts, specifically referring to a
A short, thick piece of wood; a wood block; a tree stump
Alder tree — refers to trees in the Alnus genus, typically growing
Dried up; withered; exhausted
Withered; dried up; desiccated
An obscure character with uncertain meaning, possibly a variant form or rare
Large wooden tray or basin; to enjoy; to be content
A type of tree, specifically the Japanese pagoda tree (Sophora japonica) or
Partition; lattice; compartment
An archaic Chinese character referring to a type of mulberry tree or; rarely used in modern Chinese.
A type of tree, specifically referring to the Japanese yew or Chinese; also used in proper names.
An ancient term for a type of hoe or weeding tool used; an archaic agricultural implement.
A wooden tool or implement; an ancient term for a specific type of wooden object or mechanism.
Shuò — a long lance or spear used in ancient Chinese warfare,
Construct, build, compose, form; structure, framework; also to conceive or draft (as in a plan).
Mallet; hammer; club
Spear, lance, gun, firearm; a long weapon with a pointed tip used for thrusting or throwing; also refers to modern firearms.
raft; to fell trees; to cut
A type of wooden door bolt or latch; also refers to a wooden wedge or support beam in traditional Chinese
Sophora japonica — the Japanese pagoda tree or Chinese scholar tree; a deciduous tree known for its fragrant flowers and use in traditional; also used metaphorically in reference to official positions.
Plum blossom; variant form of 梅 (plum); internet slang meaning 'very dumb' or 'extremely foolish' due to its visual
An obsolete variant of 慤 (què), meaning sincere, honest, or prudent; also appears in some historical texts with unclear meaning.
lever; thick pole; bar
Gao — refers to a well sweep, a counterbalanced lever used for
Table — a piece of furniture with a flat top and one
A leather bag or sack; a tube or pipe; also used in ancient texts to refer to a type of bellows.
A variant form of 桥 (qiáo), meaning bridge. An archaic or regional
Japanese kanji meaning 'form', 'shape', 'manner', 'appearance', 'model', 'pattern'; used as an honorific suffix in Japanese names and titles.
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.