Browse meaningful Chinese characters for names — pronunciations, core meanings, radicals, stroke counts, and structure.
Quiver — a case for holding arrows, typically made of bamboo or
Zha — an archaic character meaning to pierce, stab, or prick; also used historically for official documents or memorials to the throne.
An ancient bamboo flute; a bamboo pole used for punting boats; a type of ancient bamboo arrow.
Kong — refers to the konghou, an ancient Chinese plucked string instrument; used in the term 'konghou' and in the name of the legendary
To clamp; to grip; to restrain
To bend, to curve; a bent or curved object (archaic/obscure character).
A type of fine bamboo; also refers to a type of fungus (mushroom).
Whip; rod; cane
tube, pipe; to manage, to control; a wind instrument
A deep bamboo basket used for carrying things, typically with a handle.
A type of bamboo with thorns; specifically refers to spiny bamboo species.
To gather, collect, assemble; a gathering or collection of things.
A variant form of the character 箥, primarily used in the word
Ze — a bamboo mat or bed; historically refers to a type of bamboo mat used for sitting or
A small box, chest, or suitcase, typically made of bamboo or wood,
Bamboo sheath — the outer sheath or husk that encases bamboo shoots
A large bamboo basket or sieve used for winnowing grain, sifting flour,; typically woven from bamboo strips.
A small bamboo basket used for holding cooked rice; ancient food container.
Xiao — a vertical end-blown bamboo flute used in Chinese classical music; also refers to similar wind instruments.
Indocalamus leaf — refers to broad bamboo leaves used for wrapping food,; also refers to the indocalamus plant itself.
Arrow — a projectile shot from a bow; also refers to things shaped like an arrow or moving swiftly like
A type of bamboo used for making arrows in ancient times; also refers to a specific bamboo species.
A type of bamboo basket or container; specifically refers to a bamboo sedan chair or palanquin used in ancient
Bamboo shoot; young bamboo sprout emerging from the ground.
Box, chest, trunk, case — a container, typically rectangular and with a
A type of bamboo used for making utensils, particularly referring to bamboo
A screen or curtain used in ancient carriages; also refers to a type of bamboo mat or screen.
Admonish, warn; maxim, proverb; ancient needle-like instrument
A bamboo fishing basket or creel; a type of ancient bamboo implement used for carrying or storing items,
Hu — refers to a type of bamboo container or vessel; used in ancient Chinese for holding arrows or other items.
A type of bamboo mat or screen; an ancient term for a specific kind of bamboo implement.
Chopsticks — utensils used for eating Asian food; also refers to something used for support or as a tool.
A type of ancient Chinese musical instrument, specifically a small bamboo flute; also refers to a musical scale or pitch standard in ancient Chinese
An ancient name for a type of bamboo; also used in classical texts.
A type of ancient bamboo flute; a specific kind of bamboo used for making such flutes.
Dense bamboo grove; thick growth of bamboo.
A surname; also refers to a type of bamboo.
Ancient Chinese musical instrument resembling a bamboo flute; also refers to the sound of wind blowing through bamboo.
A type of bamboo mat or screen; also refers to a fine-toothed comb.
Joint, segment, section, node; festival, holiday; to economize, to save
Bamboo grove — refers to a thicket or forest of bamboo; also used in classical poetry and place names.
A decorative piece on the top of a bamboo hat; used primarily in classical Chinese texts.
A type of small bamboo; specifically refers to Phyllostachys nidularia, a species of bamboo with slender stems.
Model, pattern, example; scope, limits; to restrict, to control
A cylindrical container made of bamboo strips or woven materials, used for
Seal script — an ancient style of Chinese calligraphy used during the; also refers to seal carving as an art form.
piece; sheet; book
A type of bamboo; also used in ancient texts as a proper name or in specific
To build, construct, erect; refers to construction work; also means to pound earth solid
A type of bamboo fish trap or weir used in rivers and; also refers to a bamboo structure for water management.
A small box, chest, or trunk, typically made of bamboo or wood,
A type of ancient Chinese plucked string instrument, specifically referring to the
A type of ancient bamboo flute; a bamboo wind instrument used in ancient China.
A rare character describing a faint, distant, or subtle sound, particularly of
To inlay, to embed, to set (as jewels in a setting); to insert; to mount.
A variant form of 箍, meaning to bind, hoop, or encircle with; to restrain or confine.
Kuì — a bamboo basket for carrying soil; often used metaphorically in idioms to mean a final effort or failure
A variant form of the character 饐 (yì), meaning food that has; refers to fermented or preserved foods in some contexts.
Basket — a container made of bamboo, wicker, or similar materials, typically
Yun — refers to a type of large bamboo with thick joints,
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.