Browse meaningful Chinese characters for names — pronunciations, core meanings, radicals, stroke counts, and structure.
Benzyl (chemical term); refers to the benzyl group (C₆H₅CH₂-) in organic chemistry.
To mow, cut grass; sickle; variant form of 刈 meaning to harvest or reap.
A rare character historically used in Japanese as a katakana variant; also appears in some Chinese dialects with uncertain meaning.
reed — a tall, slender-leaved plant of wet places; rush.
A character used primarily in the name of the medicinal herb Semen
A type of organic compound; specifically refers to picene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon.
A chemical compound name; specifically refers to acenaphthene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon.
Amaranth — an edible leafy vegetable; refers to plants in the Amaranthus genus.
A type of plant; a surname; used in the name of Changhong (苌弘), a historical figure from the
dark blue; deep green; gray
Ramie — a perennial herbaceous plant (Boehmeria nivea) in the nettle family,
To revive, resurrect; to come to; perilla plant
A variant form of 第, meaning 'sequence', 'order', 'grade'; also used in classical texts as a particle or conjunction similar to
Garden, park, plantation; imperial hunting park; a place where plants and animals are cultivated
Luxuriant growth of plants; gradually; softly
A type of medicinal fungus (Poria cocos); also refers to a fragrant plant or herb.
Moss; lichen; liverwort
Chinese trumpet vine (Campsis grandiflora); sweet potato (regional usage); reed flower
A type of plant; shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris); also used in some historical contexts.
seedling; sprout; young plant
Abutilon, a type of plant (especially Abutilon theophrasti, known as velvetleaf or; historically used for fiber.
A type of plant, possibly pigweed or a similar herb; historically refers to a pigsty or enclosure.
A type of plant; a kind of herb or grass (archaic usage).
harsh; severe; exacting
Medicago (a type of plant); alfalfa; clover
A type of plant; also refers to a chemical compound (betaine).
bud; flower bud; bract
careless; negligent; if
Luxuriant growth of crops; refers to lush vegetation or farmland.
Coix seed; Job's tears (a type of grain); used in the plant name 薏苡 (yì yǐ).
Plantain herb (Plantago asiatica); used in the name of the plant 芣苢 (fú yǐ).
Lettuce; a general term for certain plants in the lettuce family, such as
A type of plant; used in the name of the vegetable 苤蓝 (kohlrabi).
if; supposing; as if
bitter; hardship; suffering
Ramie — a perennial herbaceous plant in the nettle family, used for; also refers to the fiber from this plant.
A type of plant, possibly referring to a medicinal herb; appears in classical texts like the Compendium of Materia Medica (本草纲目).
An archaic character meaning 'white' or 'bright', also used as a variant
A surname; bright, shining, luminous; variant form used in names.
straw mat; thatch; cover with straw mat
A type of fungus; mushroom; specifically refers to a certain kind of edible mushroom.
Describing the appearance of lush, flourishing grass or plants.
A type of mushroom or fungus; a legendary immortal herb.
Benzene — an aromatic hydrocarbon; also refers to something foolish or stupid in certain contexts.
A type of plant; specifically refers to the Chinese trumpet vine (Campsis grandiflora).
flower; petal; hero
A type of aquatic grass; also used in place names.
A type of plant; used in personal names, often for its gentle, natural connotations.
A type of hemp plant; a coarse cloth made from hemp; to wrap or pad
A type of grass or plant; appears in classical texts.
Weary, tired, exhausted; listless, dispirited; withered (of plants).
glycoside — a class of compounds in plants; licorice root; sweet herb.
An ancient name for a type of plant; also used as a variant form in classical texts.
Apple; also refers to duckweed or certain water plants.
Berry; wild strawberry; generic term for small fruits.
A type of reed or rush; also a Chinese surname, notably associated with the Former Qin dynasty.
An ancient name for a type of plant; also used in names.
An ancient name for the water caltrop or wild rice stem; also refers to a type of edible aquatic plant.
Fragrant; aromatic; sweet-smelling
An ancient variant form of 味 (taste, flavor); also historically used as a variant of 未 (not yet).
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.