Browse meaningful Chinese characters for names — pronunciations, core meanings, radicals, stroke counts, and structure.
Jing — clear, limpid (of water); archaic and rare character used in classical texts to describe clear water.
Clear, transparent; to clarify, to purify; also used in placenames.
Huà — name of an ancient river in Shandong province, China; rarely used in modern language.
to water; to irrigate; to pour liquid
Waterlogging — refers to excessive accumulation of water on land, typically from; also used metaphorically for being overwhelmed.
Clear — transparent, limpid, lucid; describes water or other substances that are pure and free from impurities; can also describe clarity of thought or expression.
Gǎn — refers to Ganyu (澉浦), a place name in Zhejiang province; also used in the word 'ganlan' (澉澹) meaning 'tasteless, insipid'.
Cūn — a rare character used primarily in place names; also appears in some personal names.
Jing — refers to the shimmering, rippling, or sparkling appearance of water; describes the glistening or radiant quality of light on water.
to exhaust; to use up completely; to disappear
Timely rain; to moisten; to benefit
Peng — onomatopoeic for the sound of waves crashing; surging, swelling; refers to turbulent waters or emotional agitation.
A variant form of 涵, meaning to contain, to include; deep water; to immerse
Yun — refers to large, flowing waves or billows; used in classical Chinese to describe turbulent water.
An archaic or variant form of 溜 (liū/liù), meaning to slip away,; or to stroll, saunter.
Vast, immense; flowing water; mercury, quicksilver.
Fu — refers to a bend in a river; a turning back of water; to flow back
Vast; extensive; grand — used to describe something of great scale or magnitude, particularly
Deep water; an obscure character primarily found in names and poetic contexts.
Boundless water; vast, expansive, or limitless expanse of water.
Tears flowing; to shed tears.
Tidal flat; salt marsh; coastal wetland that is flooded and drained by salt water brought in
An archaic variant form of 澳, meaning bay, inlet, or harbor; also used in place names.
Lu — an archaic or rare character referring to a river name
Billows, large waves; refers to great waves or turbulent waters; metaphorically used for grand, surging momentum or emotions.
A variant form of 泞 (nìng), meaning 'muddy' or 'miry'; used in some contexts to describe muddy or swampy conditions.
A small stream in a valley; a mountain brook or rivulet.
Cold — refers to cold, chilly, or frigid temperatures; also used to describe a stern, severe, or awe-inspiring demeanor.
Mian — refers to the Mian River in Henan province; also used in the place name Mianchi County.
to bathe; to wash; to cleanse oneself
Dang — a rare character referring to the sound of water or; used in classical Chinese texts to describe the dripping or pattering sound
Wash — to cleanse or launder; an archaic variant of 浣 (huàn) meaning to wash; also used in historical contexts.
Marsh, wetland; pond; luster, gloss
Xie — refers to a creek or inlet of the sea; a strait; to dissolve or become watery
Yù — refers to turbulent, swirling waters; specifically used in the place name Yuyu Rock in the Yangtze River.
Li — refers to the Li River (澧水) in Hunan province; also appears in ancient place names and classical texts.
Shi — refers to a riverbank, shore, or waterside; also used in ancient place names.
Xue — refers to a seasonal mountain stream that dries up in; also an archaic term for a channel or watercourse.
Waterway, channel; a watercourse or water path; also used in names to evoke a sense of flowing water, clarity,
Wan — a rare character used primarily in place names; also an ancient variant of 漫 meaning 'overflow, spread out'.
River name — refers to the Zishui River (资水) in Hunan province,; also an ancient term for ferry crossing or ford.
Yong — refers to the Yong River, a tributary of the ancient; also used in classical texts to describe water overflowing its banks or
Hui — refers to irrigation ditches, drainage channels, or small streams; also appears in place names.
Càn — clear, pure, bright (especially of water); sparkling, limpid.
To overflow; to flood; to inundate
Sediment, dregs, precipitate; to settle, to deposit; refers to sediment that settles at the bottom of liquid.
Yè — an obscure character referring to a type of waterfall or; also appears in ancient texts as a variant form.
Australia; Macau; deep bay
Huan — refers to a river in Hubei province, China; also describes the sound of flowing water.
Zhen — an obscure Chinese character meaning a name of a river; also used in some place names.
Tranquil — refers to a placid, calm state; historically used in the name of a river and a prefecture in
To overflow; to spread out; to be extensive and vast (of water).
To be moved emotionally; to be touched; to feel deeply
Tranquil, calm, placid; also refers to the appearance of water ripples or waves; used in names to convey serenity and peacefulness.
Yi River — name of a river in Henan Province, China; specifically refers to the Yi River (澺水) in ancient geography.
Ditch; a small canal or irrigation channel used for water diversion in fields.
To wash; to cleanse; specifically refers to the action of rinsing or bleaching fabric.
Ju — refers to the Ju River (澽水), a river in Shaanxi; used primarily in geographical names.
Slippery, slick — describes a surface that is wet and difficult to
Qín — a rare character referring to the sound of flowing water; also used in ancient texts to describe the appearance of water.
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.