Browse meaningful Chinese characters for names — pronunciations, core meanings, radicals, stroke counts, and structure.
Chrysanthemum — specifically refers to the crown daisy or garland chrysanthemum, an
A rare character used primarily in the name of the plant 草茽
A rare character, primarily used in the name of a medicinal plant
A type of grass or plant; used in ancient texts to refer to a specific plant species.
A Chinese surname; name of an ancient state during the Zhou dynasty; also refers to a type of fragrant plant.
A type of edible plant, possibly referring to a wild vegetable or; also used in ancient texts.
Luxuriant flowers; blossoms in full bloom; also refers to a type of plant (白荂) and a type of
Aromatic herb; fragrant plant; ancient term for a type of incense
root; rootstock; the base or foundation of a plant
To answer, reply; small bean; thick, dense
A type of thorny shrub (Vitex negundo); historically refers to the ancient state of Chu; used in names for places and people.
An aquatic plant with floating leaves and yellow flowers, often found in; specifically refers to the Nymphoides peltata species.
Tea — an archaic term for tea, particularly referring to late-harvested or
grass; plants; herbs
Thorny shrub, bramble; a type of plant; historical region in ancient China
A type of grass or plant; used in ancient texts to refer to certain vegetation.
A type of ancient medicinal herb; used in classical Chinese texts to refer to a calming or soothing
Buckwheat; a type of plant, also used in classical texts.
A type of plant, specifically the Chinese wild ginger (Asarum species); also refers to a kind of vine plant.
Perilla (a plant); weak; soft
To recommend; to introduce; to promote
To weed; to remove grass; tender shoots of grass or reeds
waste, uncultivated; desolate; famine
A type of plant, possibly referring to a kind of marsh plant; also used in ancient texts.
Lychee — a tropical fruit with rough red skin and sweet white; also used in place names.
Tendon; sinew; fibrous tissue connecting muscle to bone.
A type of plant; used in the term '荖叶' (betel leaf); also appears in place names.
Used exclusively in the name of a medicinal plant, 蓬莪荗 (péng é
Village, manor, solemn, dignified; used in names and place names.
Used in the plant name 'plantain' (车前草).
pod, legume — refers to the seed-containing pod of leguminous plants like
To gather firewood; firewood; fuel
A type of bean; a coarse bamboo or wicker fence or screen; used in words related to poverty or humble dwellings.
A type of plant; used in the name of a traditional Chinese medicinal herb (Zéxiè).
Buckwheat — a grain-like seed used as a food crop; also refers to the buckwheat plant.
luxuriant growth of plants; to gather together; to assemble
Shepherd's purse — a common edible wild plant; also refers to water chestnut in some contexts.
to swing; to sway; to wander
A variant form of 茡 (zì), meaning 'nettle' or 'stinging plant'; also used in some historical texts.
glory, honor; to flourish, prosper; thriving, luxuriant growth
Meat-based foods; strong-smelling vegetables like garlic and onions; vulgar, obscene.
Xing — refers to the Xingyang region in Henan province, China.
prominent; outstanding; brindled ox
glimmering, shimmering, faint light; phosphorescent; dazzling
Nettle — refers to plants of the nettle family, particularly those that
A kind of grass (Arthraxon hispidus); loyal, devoted; used in historical contexts for loyal officials.
Aromatic plant; fragrant grass; specifically refers to a type of fragrant herb (similar to sweet flag
shade, shadow; to shelter, to protect; (by extension) to benefit from ancestral influence or official favor
A type of plant, specifically referring to the sow thistle (Sonchus) or
Herbaceous plant — refers to the prince's-feather plant (Polygonum orientale), known for; also called Chinese knotweed.
A type of grass; historically used to wrap or bind things.
Medicine; drug; remedy
A type of plant or herb; appears in the name of a plant called 荰衡 (a fragrant herb).
A type of ancient plant or herb mentioned in classical texts; an obscure character with limited modern usage.
A type of edible plant or vegetable; also refers to a plant that grows quickly after being cut.
Bean — an archaic or variant form of 豆 (bean), used in
To scatter; to flutter down; (archaic) to display
A type of plant, specifically referring to Polygonum virginianum or similar species
A type of edible plant, possibly referring to water dropwort or celery-like
Lotus — an aquatic plant with large pink or white flowers; also used to mean 'carry', 'bear', or 'responsibility'.
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.