Browse meaningful Chinese characters for names — pronunciations, core meanings, radicals, stroke counts, and structure.
Dog; canine; used metaphorically to describe something despicable or contemptible.
(Classical Chinese) To leap or jump suddenly; to dash forward swiftly; (of an animal) to run wildly.
A macaque monkey; to lie in wait; to ambush
A wild boar; an ancient name for a type of animal; also used in classical texts.
A mythical dog-like creature in East Asian folklore; sometimes refers to a type of lion-dog guardian figure.
Used in the term 狜猔 (gǔ zòng), referring to a type of
To hunt in autumn; ancient term for autumn hunting or military exercises; to kill.
ferocious, hideous, fierce; describes a savage, menacing appearance or expression
A large dog or mastiff; also used in ancient texts to refer to a type of wild
ruthless; fierce; severe
cunning, crafty, sly, deceitful; also refers to a type of dog in ancient texts.
Raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides); badger; also used in names of certain animals.
A large, powerful dog; refers to a strong and fierce canine.
A type of animal, possibly a rat-like creature or a mythical beast; obscure character rarely used in modern Chinese.
To follow; to comply with; to yield to
A fierce, ferocious wild dog; a type of wild beast; also refers to a kind of ape or monkey.
To lick; to taste; to lap up (as a dog does)
A type of small monkey, specifically the marmoset; soft fur or down; sometimes used to refer to squirrel fur in historical texts.
to hunt; hunting; winter hunting
A mythical creature mentioned in ancient Chinese texts; a pig-like animal that produces pearls.
A term used in the name of the Gelao (仡佬) ethnic group; archaic term for certain ethnic groups.
alone; solitary; single
narrow, limited, confined; refers to something with small width or restricted scope
Lion — a large carnivorous feline mammal, often used symbolically to represent
cunning, crafty, sly, wily — describes someone who is clever in a
Fierce, ferocious, savage; describes a wild, menacing appearance, especially of mythical beasts.
prison, jail; lawsuit, legal case; to imprison
Monkey — used primarily in the word 猢狲 (husun), referring to a; often used figuratively to describe a restless or mischievous person.
Armadillo — a burrowing mammal with a leathery armor shell, native to; used in the Chinese name for the animal.
A legendary beast resembling a tiger; refers to a prison or jail (from 狴犴, a mythological prison-guarding creature).
Ancient name for a kind of dog; also used in some historical texts to refer to a type of
pig; wild boar; ancient name for a pig-like animal
Impetuous; rash; impatient
Raccoon dog — a small, dog-like wild animal native to East Asia,; used in names for animals and in folklore.
narrow; limited; cramped
The sound of a dog barking or snarling; used to describe angry or aggressive canine vocalizations.
Suān — refers to a mythical beast or lion; primarily used in the compound word 'suānní' meaning lion.
Wolf — a carnivorous mammal of the canine family; metaphorically refers to someone cruel, greedy, or predatory.
Wretched — describes a miserable, wretched, or distressed state; often used in conjunction with 狼 (wolf) in idioms to depict a
Rabid, mad (of dogs); frenzied, insane
An ancient name for a type of wild beast; an archaic term appearing in classical texts.
An ancient name for a type of dog or wild canine; also appears in historical texts referring to certain tribal peoples.
Lynx — refers to the lynx, a wild cat species with tufted
Fierce, savage, ferocious; cruel, brutal; used in names to denote strength or ferocity.
A type of long-muzzled dog or hound; refers to the Xianyun, an ancient northern nomadic tribe.
A type of deer, specifically referring to the barking deer or muntjac
A fierce, wild-looking dog; ancient term for a ferocious canine.
A surname; also used in ancient texts to describe a type of animal or
The roar of a tiger; a fierce or intimidating sound; ancient place name in Shandong province.
A legendary dog-like creature; ancient name for a short-legged dog; also appears in ancient texts as a proper name.
A small dog; a puppy; also used in some ancient texts to refer to a type of
Lion — specifically refers to a lion, often used in classical Chinese; also appears in the term for lion statue (狻猊).
Whirlwind, gale; swift, rapid; pack of dogs running together
A dog with long hair; to raise the bristles; to be angry or fierce.
A type of wild animal, possibly referring to a wild cat or; archaic and rare in modern usage.
hunt — to pursue and kill wild animals for food or sport; to search for something diligently; metaphorically refers to seeking or pursuing something.
A type of wild boar or pig; an ancient term for a specific animal, possibly referring to a wild
An archaic variant form of 獐 (zhāng), referring to a roe deer
A legendary animal in ancient Chinese mythology; a type of mythical beast.
Satiated, full, satisfied; to be weary of; to dislike
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.