Browse meaningful Chinese characters for names — pronunciations, core meanings, radicals, stroke counts, and structure.
To untie, undo, release, explain, understand; also used as a surname.
Uneven horns — refers to horns that are of unequal length or
An ancient wine vessel made of horn or bronze, often used in; a large drinking cup or goblet.
Touch; contact; strike
To untie; to release; to explain
horn-like object; ancient term for a type of horn or horn-shaped vessel.
Bent, curved (of horns); describes the upward-curving shape of horns or horn-like objects.
An ancient term for a type of horn or drinking vessel, often; archaic and rarely used in modern Chinese.
To tremble, shiver, shudder — describes a state of fear or cold-induced
Curved horn; refers to the shape of an animal horn that is bent or
uneven, odd-numbered, one horn up; to tilt, to lean to one side; strange, unusual
A horn; an ancient term for an animal horn, particularly one used for making
Zhi — an ancient Chinese bronze wine vessel used in rituals during; a type of drinking cup.
A legendary one-horned mythical beast; also refers to a type of deer with a single horn.
An ancient Chinese reed instrument; also used in the name of a type of cold wind.
An ancient Chinese term for a horn-adorned vessel or implement, possibly related
An ancient measuring vessel; a type of ritual wine vessel; also used in the word 觳觫 meaning 'to tremble with fear'.
Wine cup, goblet; to toast with wine; a feast or drinking party.
Ancient wine vessel made of horn; ancient drinking vessel used in rituals.
Zhi — an ancient Chinese drinking vessel, typically a wine goblet used
To polish or file horns; to process horn into useful objects; also refers to the sound of horns being polished.
Touch; contact; strike
Ancient jade pendant shaped like an animal horn; used as a belt ornament or ceremonial object in ancient China, often
sharp; pointed; specifically refers to the appearance of horns or antlers
A horn or antler; an ancient place name; also refers to a sharp point or tip.
Ancient bronze buckle or clasp used for fastening belts or straps in; refers to a specific type of decorative metal fastener.
Xi — an ancient bone or horn tool used for untying knots; also refers to a pointed implement or a symbolic object worn as
Swallow (bird) — refers to the swallow bird species, known for their
xi — an ancient bone or jade artifact used as a belt; symbolizes wisdom and problem-solving ability.
speech, word, saying; to speak, to say; language
The left-side radical form of the character 言 (speech, words, language); used as a component in compound characters.
To order; to book; to subscribe
obituary — a notice announcing someone's death; to report a death.
To coerce, to force, to compel; to press urgently.
To inquire; to ask; to investigate (archaic variant of 訄).
To shout; to cry out; to call
A loud sound, crash, bang; used in ancient texts for the sound of a great noise or
To calculate; to plan; to scheme
To talk excessively; to chatter; to gossip. (Rare character, primarily used in classical texts and dialects.)
To inquire; to ask; information
To divine; to inquire through divination; to seek supernatural guidance.
confusion, disorder, internal strife — refers to internal conflict, discord, or chaos
To slander, to blame falsely; to find fault with; to dispute.
To discuss; to demand; to ask for
Exaggerated, boastful, or large; used in classical Chinese to describe grand or excessive speech.
To expose someone's faults or secrets; to denounce or accuse publicly; to reproach.
Deceive, cheat; arrogant; used in classical Chinese texts and names.
To speak hesitantly or with difficulty; to stammer; to be slow or reluctant in speech.
To instruct, teach, train; to explain; to admonish
To argue; to dispute; to debate
to mock, ridicule, slander; to be embarrassed, ashamed; to gossip maliciously
To end; to finish; to conclude
To entrust; to commission; to rely on
To record; to write down; to remember
To speak hastily or rashly; to talk nonsense; to spread rumors.
Yin — respectful and courteous in speech; dignified and upright in debate; harmonious in discussion.
Error, falsehood, rumor; to extort, to blackmail; to change, to alter.
To be surprised, astonished, or amazed; to express wonder or disbelief.
Yao — refers to ominous, strange, or supernatural phenomena; demonic; uncanny
To litigate; to dispute; to argue a case in court
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.