Browse meaningful Chinese characters for names — pronunciations, core meanings, radicals, stroke counts, and structure.
danger, peril; hazardous; precarious
A surname; also means 'lofty', 'eminent', 'exalted' in classical Chinese.
to approach; to be near; immediately
but, yet, however; to decline, to retreat, to step back; used to indicate completion of an action.
egg; ovum; spawn
An ancient Chinese character meaning 'abundant', 'ample', or 'large measure'; archaic term for a large quantity or generous portion.
to roll up; scroll; volume
To unload; to remove; to lay down
To pity; to sympathize with; to show compassion
A ceremonial nuptial wine cup used in ancient Chinese wedding rituals, particularly
Yet, but, however; to decline, refuse; to step back, retreat
unstable, unsteady, precarious; describes something that is not firmly fixed and may wobble or fall
To approach; to come near; immediately
E — ancient form of 鄂, used in historical place names; refers to Hubei province; also used in some surnames.
Minister, high official; noble title; term of endearment between spouses or close friends in classical Chinese.
Knee — the joint between the thigh and the lower leg in
Surname; mountain name; place name (archaic/obscure character)
Factory; workshop; yard
Ancient form of 危 (dangerous, perilous); also an old form of 檐 (eaves).
Adversity, hardship, distress; predicament, difficulty; narrow pass, strategic point.
Hall; large room; office
calendar; to experience; to undergo
Ancient form of 宅 (dwelling, residence); also an archaic character meaning to open up land or expand.
A cliff, a riverbank; an ancient form of 岸 (shore, bank).
Strict, severe, rigorous; to sharpen; to encourage
A cliff; also used in the term 厏厊 (zhǎ yǎ), meaning uneven, not fitting
to press; to push down; to suppress
to dislike; to detest; to be tired of
A rare surname; also refers to a village or small settlement.
To settle; to reach; foundation
Narrow; cramped; refers to a narrow or tight space. Also used in the word
Large; vast; disordered
An obscure or archaic character; meaning uncertain, possibly a variant form.
A cliff; a steep bank. (Rare character, primarily found in historical texts and dictionaries.)
Cliff, precipice; ancient form of 崖; also used in historical place names and personal names.
To stop; to obstruct; to hinder
toilet; lavatory; restroom
Large, great; massive; mixed, confused
A type of stone, possibly referring to a grinding stone or millstone; an ancient term appearing in classical texts.
A unit of length equal to 0.1 fen (about 0.333 mm); a unit of weight equal to 0.1 fen (about 0.0373 g); a unit of area equal to 0.1 mu (about 6.667 square meters)
Surname; a shed or warehouse; also used in place names.
thick; deep; profound
Hall, office; government bureau; reception room
Mountain peak; high mountain top; summit.
cuò — to place, to arrange; a whetstone; also refers to a temporary burial or coffin placement.
Hidden; concealed; secret
Original, primary, fundamental; source, origin; plain, unadorned
Toilet, restroom, lavatory; also means to participate in or join among.
Original — an obsolete variant form of 原 meaning 'origin', 'source', 'fundamental'; also used in some Japanese place names.
Side room; wing-room; box (theater)
Operculum — the hard covering or lid found in certain mollusks, crustaceans,; specifically refers to the shell-like plate that seals the aperture of gastropod
Calendar — an ancient form of calendar; to arrange in order; to calculate
His, her, its, their; that, those; to faint, lose consciousness
Tall building, mansion; also refers to Xiamen city (Amoy).
Mound; tomb; used in ancient texts to refer to a burial mound or grave.
Kitchen — a room or area where food is prepared and cooked; also refers to a cook or chef.
Stable; a building for housing horses or livestock; a coach house.
A small hut; cottage; hut
Storehouse, granary — refers to a building for storing grain or other
A spring from which water flows underground; also refers to the side of a mountain where water flows out.
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.