Browse meaningful Chinese characters for names — pronunciations, core meanings, radicals, stroke counts, and structure.
Who; whom; which
to know; to consider; to think over
To adjust, regulate, harmonize; to transfer, move; to investigate
to flatter, to fawn upon, to be obsequious, to curry favor
to forgive, to understand, to presume, to excuse — used for forgiveness,
Earnest, sincere, patient and thorough in instruction; to instruct repeatedly.
To scold, reproach, or blame; to speak harshly to someone.
talk; discuss; conversation
To interrogate; to question thoroughly; to investigate in detail.
Friendship — refers to friendly relations, fellowship, or camaraderie between people; often used in formal contexts to denote deep, meaningful bonds.
To plan; to scheme; to strategize
Sincere, honest; to believe; also used as a surname pronounced Chén or Shèn.
Spy, espionage agent; to engage in espionage or intelligence gathering.
Lie, falsehood, deception — refers to an untrue statement made with intent; also describes something false or fabricated.
To remonstrate; to admonish; to criticize frankly (especially to a superior)
Harmonious — refers to harmony, coordination, agreement; often used in words related to humor, comedy, or concord.
To ridicule; to mock; to jest
to visit (a superior); to pay respects; to present oneself
to speak; to say; to call
Honest and outspoken speech; forthright declaration; candid opinion.
Decree, edict; to instruct, to make known; to understand, to comprehend (often used in formal or imperial contexts).
to forget; to deceive; to cheat
to slander, to defame, to speak maliciously of others; calumny, backbiting.
To consult; to seek advice; to deliberate
To be well-versed in; to be familiar with; to know thoroughly (especially through experience).
proverb, saying, adage — a traditional, widely known expression that often imparts
to examine carefully; to scrutinize; truth (in Buddhist context)
Riddle, mystery, puzzle, enigma — something that is difficult to understand or; a question or statement requiring a clever solution.
To boast, brag, show off; to talk glibly; to deceive with words.
Cunning — wisdom, knowledge, cleverness, stratagem; also means to plan or scheme.
Plan, scheme, strategy — refers to a carefully devised plan, strategy, or
Candid, honest, straightforward — often used in formal or literary contexts to
To rise up; to stand up tall and straight; used in classical Chinese to describe a dignified, upright posture.
Xie — to thank; to apologize; to decline
Ballad, folk song; rumor, unfounded story; to sing
To slander; to defame; to vilify
Posthumous name — an honorary title given to emperors, nobles, and officials
Humble, modest — describes the quality of being unassuming, not arrogant, showing
Tranquil; serene; quiet
Cautious, careful, prudent; respectful, reverent; used to express formality and deference.
To deceive, to mock, to scorn; to speak disrespectfully or contemptuously.
To demote, exile, or banish an official; to censure or blame; to be relegated or condemned
Shallow; superficial; meager
False, erroneous, mistaken; absurd, fallacious; incorrect reasoning or statement.
Tan — a Chinese surname; also means deep pool, profound, to talk, to discuss.
To slander; to falsely accuse; to speak maliciously of someone behind their back.
Watchtower, tower; to blame, reproach; a surname
To slander; to calumniate; to make false accusations
Chart, table, register; musical score; spectrum
deceive, cheat; cunning, crafty; strange, unusual
To judge; to decide a legal case; to pass judgment
To censure; to reprimand; to blame
Delirious; to talk nonsense; to rave
Prophecy; omen; prediction — refers to prophetic statements, divinatory signs, or foretelling of future
Valley; ravine; gorge
A deep valley; a gorge; also used in ancient texts to describe deep, narrow mountain passes.
Hong — describes a deep, resonant sound; profound and vast; used in ancient texts to describe grand or deep qualities.
Echo — the sound of a valley or cave; reverberation; mountain echo.
Footprint; trace; vestige
Deep ravine or valley; deep gully; also used in ancient place names.
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.