Browse meaningful Chinese characters for names — pronunciations, core meanings, radicals, stroke counts, and structure.
To reduce; to decrease; to subtract
Nuan — warm water; hot spring; ancient term for bathing water.
To change; Chongqing (abbreviation); refers to the Yu River
A rare character meaning 'source of a river' or 'origin of a
Ting — refers to water accumulating and becoming still; a deep pool; to stop flowing
Ditch, canal, channel; also used as a third-person pronoun 'he/she' in some dialects; large, great.
To cross over; to ferry across; to pass through
Describes the sound of wind or water; used in classical texts to evoke a gentle, harmonious sound.
Dregs, sediment, residue; worthless or inferior material; slang for a contemptible person.
Bohai — refers to the Bohai Sea, a gulf/inland sea in northeastern; also used in the name of Bohai Bay.
Wò — to moisten; to soak; to enrich
whirlpool, vortex; eddy; spiral
To drip; to trickle; a drop of liquid
A cove or small bay; a bend in a river or coastline where water collects.
Warm; mild; temperate
An ancient variant form of 濡, meaning 'to soak', 'to moisten', 'damp',
To dredge, clear out; to remove sediment; to discharge
To measure; to survey; to gauge
Wei — refers to the Wei River, a major tributary of the; also used in place names.
He — refers to the He River, an ancient river in Shandong; primarily used in historical and geographical contexts.
Harbor, port; also refers to Hong Kong as an abbreviation.
Yan — refers to clouds gathering, especially in preparation for rain; to become overcast; to cover or envelop.
渱 — refers to the sound of flowing water; also used in the term 溃渱 (kuìhóng) meaning vast flowing water or
To wash or apply color in Chinese painting technique; to depict or describe in detail; to exaggerate or play up.
To sip; to take a small drink; to taste.
Thirsty; to thirst for; to yearn for
An archaic or rare character referring to a type of water plant; also used in some place names.
Ying — refers to a small river in Shandong Province, China; also used in place names.
Yan — name of an ancient river in Shandong province, China; appears in classical Chinese texts.
To swim; to travel; to wander
Sound of flowing water; onomatopoeia for the sound of waves or rushing water.
Vast; boundless; distant and indistinct
To reduce; to omit; to save
Mei — refers to ripples or waves on water; specifically used in the name of Mei Pond (渼陂), a famous scenic
Zai — a rare character primarily used in the name of the; also appears in historical place names.
Hun — turbid, muddy; chaotic; confused
Nài — refers to the Nai River, a specific river name; also used in place names.
Gorge or ravine with flowing water; refers to a mountain stream or valley with water.
Chì — describes the appearance of water rising or bubbling up; refers to the upward movement of water.
Ancient character meaning river name or water flowing sound; extremely rare in modern usage.
To surge; to splash; the sound of waves crashing
Riverbank, waterside — refers to the edge or bank of a body; often used poetically to describe scenic waterfront locations.
To refine, to boil silk or fabric to make it white and; a process in ancient textile production.
Dark, murky water; archaic term for thick, turbid liquid; also refers to a type of ancient sacrificial broth.
Ancient form of 羹 (gēng), meaning thick soup or broth; refers to a type of cooked food preparation in ancient texts.
To rot; to decay; to become putrid or spoiled
Tranquil — describes the calm and placid flow of water; often used in literary contexts to evoke a sense of peace and
Gather, assemble, collect; move close to; happen by chance
Wei — refers to the name of an ancient river; to circle, to flow around; also used in names.
Can — an archaic or variant form of 餐, meaning 'to eat',
Rapids; swift current; rushing water
To indulge in; to be addicted to; to be absorbed in (usually negative activities like drinking or pleasure-seeking).
Ancient form of 沬 (mèi), meaning 'to wash the face'; also an obsolete variant of 須 (xū), meaning 'must, necessary'.
Ancient variant form of 洦, meaning 'shallow water' or 'marsh'.
Clear, bright (of wine); to strain spirits; luxuriant (of vegetation)
Ji — to rain heavily; pouring rain; also used to describe the sound of rain.
To overflow; to flood; to gush forth
To wash, cleanse, rinse; to purge or atone for; historically refers to washing away sins or stains.
Jian — appears in place names, particularly as part of the name
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.