Browse meaningful Chinese characters for names — pronunciations, core meanings, radicals, stroke counts, and structure.
Zheng — a traditional Chinese plucked string instrument, similar to a zither,
An ancient variant form of 策 (cè), meaning strategy, plan, policy; a bamboo slip used for writing; to whip or urge on.
Fu — refers to the bamboo frame of a loom; the reed through which warp threads pass in weaving.
Yun — refers to tough bamboo skin; bamboo; also used as a place name and in personal names, particularly feminine
To split bamboo; bamboo with a split surface; also refers to a type of bamboo used in ancient times.
A bamboo rake used for gathering leaves, hay, or grass; a specific type of agricultural tool.
A type of bamboo; also refers to a bamboo fence or enclosure.
A young bamboo; a bamboo basket; also refers to a ceremonial carriage canopy in ancient times.
A round bamboo basket used for holding grain, rice, or other items; an ancient unit of capacity.
Guan — an ancient term for a bamboo flute; also refers to a tube or pipe; historically used as a surname.
Jian — a water pipe made of bamboo; a conduit; a surname.
A type of bamboo, specifically referring to a bamboo with joints that
Bamboo tube; pipe; cylindrical container made of bamboo.
A thin, flat piece of bamboo; a bamboo slip used for writing in ancient times; a bamboo container or box.
A rare Chinese character with two main readings and meanings: 1. zhì; 2. zhǐ - a woven bamboo mat.
Cheng — a reed or comb used in weaving to maintain the
To calculate; to compute; an ancient calculating tool
To divine using stalks — refers to the ancient Chinese practice of
Chopsticks — an implement used for eating, especially in East Asian cultures; a variant form of 箸 (zhù).
A type of bamboo cable or rope used for suspension bridges; also refers to an ancient ethnic group in Sichuan.
Slender bamboo; small bamboo; used metaphorically for something small and delicate, refined, or elegant.
Shāo — a bamboo basket or pail used for holding rice or; a unit of capacity in ancient China (about 2 liters).
A thin bamboo strip; a small bamboo mat or mat used for divination; a feast or banquet.
Rods used in divination; ancient form of tongs or pincers; also refers to a strategy or plan.
banquet mat; feast; banquet seating arrangement
Divination blocks — crescent-shaped wooden or bamboo blocks used in Chinese folk
Chopsticks — eating utensils consisting of two slender sticks held between fingers,
A type of bamboo; specifically refers to a small bamboo used for making baskets or containers.
To plan; to prepare; to devise
Basket — a container typically made of woven materials such as bamboo,
Gang — refers to the town of Ganghe in Hunan province, China; used almost exclusively in this place name.
A type of tall bamboo with thin walls, growing in water or; used in classical Chinese literature to refer to this specific bamboo variety.
筽 - This character appears to be a variant or obscure form,
To sign; autograph; a label or tag
Xiao — refers to a type of small bamboo; thin bamboo; slender bamboo.
Simple; brief; simplified
Bamboo shoot; also refers to a type of bamboo hat.
A type of bamboo; also used in ancient texts as a surname or place name.
A type of bamboo; also refers to the joints of bamboo.
A type of bamboo raft or boat; also refers to a bamboo sieve or filter.
A bamboo grate or steamer rack used in cooking, typically placed in
A fine-toothed comb; a comb-like implement; also refers to the comb-like structures in certain plants or tools.
Individual; single; a measure word for items, people, or occasions
Tai — refers to young bamboo shoots; a type of algae or moss; also used in ancient texts for certain plants.
A rare character referring to a type of bamboo implement, possibly a
A type of bamboo with slender leaves, specifically referring to the Wenzhu
Jian — refers to a slip of paper, a note, a letter,; historically, a type of fine paper used for writing, poetry, or annotation.
To arrive; to reach; to attain. Also an archaic variant of 到 (dào).
To bind, hoop, or encircle tightly; a hoop or band used to bind objects together; to restrain or constrain.
Chi — an ancient Chinese bamboo flute with multiple finger holes, typically; used in ancient court music and rituals.
Zheng — a traditional Chinese plucked string instrument, similar to a zither; also refers to a kite.
Lush bamboo grove; dense bamboo forest; also used in place names.
Fan — a type of fan, especially a round fan made of
Broom — a tool for sweeping, typically made of bundled twigs, reeds,
Records, registers, or official documents; also refers to Taoist talismans or registers containing divine commands.
foil — thin sheet of metal; tinsel; leaf (as in gold leaf)
Winnowing basket — a traditional bamboo basket used for separating grain from; dustpan; also refers to the constellation Sagittarius.
A type of bamboo; used in ancient place names and personal names.
To calculate, compute; to plan, scheme; to count as, consider
A type of fine bamboo; also refers to certain types of mushrooms or fungi, especially those used
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.