Browse meaningful Chinese characters for names — pronunciations, core meanings, radicals, stroke counts, and structure.
slanting; tilted; inclined
A thin strip of bamboo; a bamboo comb; also refers to a bamboo flute.
Bāo — a type of bamboo shoot; also refers to a bamboo sheath or wrapping.
Broom — a household implement for sweeping, typically made of bundled twigs,
Si — an ancient bamboo container or hamper used for storing food,; a rectangular box or chest.
Tally — a tally used as proof of authority; a charm or amulet; a symbol
An ancient form of 册, meaning 'bamboo slips' or 'books'; also refers to a bamboo fence or woven bamboo container.
Stupid, foolish, dull; clumsy; simple-minded
A variant form or ancient form of the character 筏, meaning raft; also used in some historical texts and names.
A surname; a type of bamboo curtain or mat; also refers to a whip made of bamboo.
Bed mat; sleeping mat; used in classical texts to refer to bedding.
Ordinal number prefix; sequence marker (first, second, etc.); used before numbers to indicate order or rank.
Bamboo mat used in ancient carriages; bamboo basket or cage; also refers to the bamboo frame on boats for storing fish.
Narrow; a plank road built along cliffs; a bamboo rope
A cage for birds; a birdcage; to confine or cage birds.
A curtain or screen in a carriage; also refers to a bamboo curtain or screen.
A bamboo fish trap; a weir or basket used for catching fish in rivers.
Bamboo container — an ancient bamboo basket or vessel used in ceremonial
A reed instrument; specifically refers to the jia, an ancient Chinese reed instrument similar to
Arrow shaft; the straight wooden rod forming the body of an arrow; also refers to something long and straight.
Model, pattern, mold — refers to a standard, template, or framework used; also refers to a bamboo mold used in casting.
A variant form of 矢 (shǐ), meaning arrow; to vow; straight
An ancient type of bamboo fishing tool or implement; a rare character with limited modern usage.
A shallow basket or tray, typically made from bamboo or wicker, used
Sasa — refers to a type of small bamboo or dwarf bamboo; also used as a Japanese surname and in Japanese place names.
A slip of paper; a note; a letter
Qióng — refers to a type of bamboo, particularly the Qiongzhu bamboo; also appears in place names.
cage; coop; basket
An obscure or variant character; possibly an old form or a character used in specific contexts (e.g.,
Bian — an ancient ritual vessel made of bamboo used for holding; a type of ancient bamboo food container.
Bamboo cage or basket; a container woven from bamboo strips, often used for holding or carrying
Gui — a type of bamboo; also used in place names.
A type of bamboo implement used in ancient times for sericulture (silk
A variant form of the character 篪 (chí), referring to an ancient
Ancient term for a type of fragrant grass or herb; also appears in classical texts as a variant form.
A type of bamboo used in ancient times for making arrows; also refers to a bamboo mat or covering.
A bamboo utensil for cleaning pots and pans; a bamboo whisk used in tea preparation.
Writing instrument such as a pen, pencil, or brush; to write or record; a stroke in Chinese calligraphy
Qióng — a type of bamboo; a bamboo cane; also refers to Qionglai Mountain in Sichuan.
The loop or noose at the end of a bowstring used for
To wait; to await; equal
Jiao — bamboo strips used for divination; bamboo rope; also refers to a type of bamboo.
tendon, sinew; muscle; veins (as in leaf veins)
A bamboo fish trap; a device or means for catching fish; by extension, a method or tool for achieving a goal.
Bamboo shoot — the young, edible shoot of bamboo plants; also used metaphorically for youth or new growth.
A type of bamboo with a green outer layer; historically used in ancient texts and possibly as a material.
Raft — a flat floating structure made of planks, logs, or other
Basket — a container typically made of bamboo, wicker, or similar materials,
To build, construct; a type of ancient Chinese zither; to pound earth solid
Tube, cylinder, can; a hollow cylindrical object; also refers to certain bamboo containers.
Hairpin — an ancient hair accessory used to fasten hair or secure; also refers to the coming-of-age ceremony where girls receive hairpins at age
Answer; reply; respond
A type of bamboo mat used in ancient times; specifically refers to a bamboo mat used for sleeping or sitting.
Strategy, plan; policy; scheme
A type of ancient bamboo musical instrument; also a rare surname.
Reed — a comb-like device on a loom that pushes the weft; also known as a sley.
Lái — an archaic or variant form of 來 (lái), meaning 'to; 'to arrive'; 'future'.
A coarse bamboo wicker or wattle; used to describe something crude, simple, or humble, often in reference to
To sift, to sieve; to filter; to select
Dang — refers to a type of large bamboo; used in the name of a bamboo species.
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.