Browse meaningful Chinese characters for names — pronunciations, core meanings, radicals, stroke counts, and structure.
To hinder; to obstruct; to be entangled or caught up in
A type of rabbit net or trap; also refers to a kind of fine-toothed comb.
To hang; to suspend; to entangle
A kind of net used for catching birds; a bird-catching net or snare.
A fishing method using branches or brushwood in water to trap fish; a fish weir; also refers to dense woods.
To cover; to press; a compress
Cover, shade, hood, mantle; to cover, to envelop, to wrap; a cover or casing
Crime, sin, guilt, offense; fault, blame; suffering, hardship.
grid; ruled lines; squares on a board or paper
To catch with a net; to ensnare; to trap. An archaic character referring to capturing or trapping with a
A type of fine-meshed fishing net; a small net used for catching fish.
To place, put, set up, arrange; to establish, install; to purchase, buy
To cover; to conceal; to hide
To punish; penalty; fine
A large fishing net with a handle; to catch fish with such a net; to dredge for silt in rivers.
Office, bureau, government department; to arrange, to deploy; to sign, to put one's signature on
A decorative or protective screen, often used in ancient Chinese architecture; refers to eaves or cornices with decorative patterns.
Brown bear; specifically refers to the large brown bear species found in northern regions.
To scold, curse, abuse verbally; to reproach harshly; to revile.
A fish trap; a bamboo or wicker trap used in ancient China for catching fish,
To cease, stop, end; to dismiss from office; to finish, complete
Punishment, penalty, to penalize — refers to formal sanctions or consequences for
To suffer from; to encounter misfortune; to be afflicted with
To catch fish with a net; to fish with a net; a type of fishing tool.
A net for catching birds; a trap; to ensnare or entrap.
Ancient term for a net used in hunting; also refers to the imperial carriage canopy.
A type of woolen fabric or carpet; a fine woolen textile; also refers to a kind of fishing net.
Fishing net — an ancient type of square fishing net suspended by; to catch fish with such a net.
Bird net — a type of net used for catching birds; also refers to a net or trap in general.
A type of ancient bamboo fish trap used in rivers and streams; a fishing weir or basket.
bridle; halter; to restrain
A snare or trap for catching animals; a net; to ensnare or entrap.
A covering, veil, or cloth used to cover something; a lid or cover; in ancient usage, a type of head covering or veil.
A fishing net; specifically refers to a large net used for catching fish.
Net — originally meant a net for catching birds; now extended to mean to collect, gather, arrange in order; also used as a surname and in transliterations.
Brown bear; a large, powerful bear species (Ursus arctos) found in northern regions.
To lodge; to stay; to sojourn
bridle, halter; to restrain, control; to detain, lodge
A large hunting net; a trap for catching animals.
sheep; goat; a sacrificial animal in ancient rituals
A bleating sound of a sheep; an ancient Chinese surname, notably the royal surname of the Chu state
Qiang — an ancient ethnic group in western China; also used historically to refer to various nomadic tribes.
A newborn lamb; a young lamb that can walk; used in ancient texts to refer to young sheep.
Beautiful, pretty; good, excellent; to beautify
An ancient character meaning 'beautiful' or 'good'; also used as a surname in ancient times.
Good; virtuous; to guide
To guide, to lead; name of an ancient place in Henan province where King Wen of; to entice.
Dried meat; preserved meat; mummy (especially of a person or animal preserved whole).
Lamb — a young sheep; also refers to sacrificial offerings in ancient rituals; used metaphorically for innocence, purity, or vulnerability.
Flowing far and long; describes water flowing endlessly or extending far.
A black ram or black male sheep; also refers to a castrated ram in ancient texts.
An ancient variant form of 羌 (Qiāng), referring to the Qiang people,; also used in some historical contexts and names.
An ancient variant form of 美 (měi), meaning beautiful, pretty, good; also used as a variant of 羔 (gāo), meaning lamb, kid.
Antelope — refers to various species of antelope; also used in the word for antelope horn in traditional Chinese medicine.
ram — specifically a male sheep or goat; often used in classical Chinese texts.
Shame, embarrassment; to feel ashamed; shy
Hydroxyl — a chemical term for the -OH group in chemistry; also refers to hydroxyl radicals.
A castrated ram; a gelded sheep; also refers to a type of wild sheep in ancient texts.
To envy; to admire; to desire something possessed by others
Wool, fleece; fine hair or fur, especially from sheep or goats.
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.