Browse meaningful Chinese characters for names — pronunciations, core meanings, radicals, stroke counts, and structure.
Cheap, inexpensive; lowly, base; humble (self-reference)
Adorned, decorated; also refers to a surname; in ancient texts, describes something magnificent or ornate.
To borrow; to rent; to buy on credit
to stick; to paste; to attach
expensive, costly; noble, precious; honorable, esteemed
To bestow, to grant, to give as a gift; a present or favor given.
to lend; to borrow; a loan
trade, commerce; to exchange; rash, hasty
Fee, expense, cost; to spend, to consume; also a surname.
to congratulate; to celebrate; a surname
To present, to give as a gift; to bequeath; to leave behind
thief, traitor, extremely (slang), cunning; used historically to refer to rebels or bandits
A ceremonial gift presented at a first meeting with an elder or
Jia — a surname; also means merchant, trade, or to buy/sell in classical Chinese.
Bribe, bribery; to offer or accept bribes; illicit money or gifts given to corrupt someone.
Wealth, property; to estimate, calculate; a monetary unit in ancient China
To rent; to hire; to lease (property, services, etc.).
To bribe; bribery; to offer or accept illicit payments or gifts to influence someone's actions.
Stolen goods; bribes; illicit gains
Resources, capital, funds; to supply, to provide; qualifications, endowment
Complete, comprehensive; to include all; sufficient.
parting gift; farewell present; travel expenses for a journey
Bribe — refers to the act of bribing or a bribe itself; illicit payment to influence someone's actions.
to relieve; to aid; to provide financial assistance to those in need
To bestow, to grant, to confer; a gift or reward given by a superior.
To buy or sell on credit; to owe; to be distant or far-reaching
To bestow, grant, or endow; a tax or levy; a type of classical Chinese poetic essay
To gamble; to bet; to wager
To present or give; to supply or provide; to carry or bring along
to redeem; to ransom; to atone for
To reward; to appreciate; to admire
To bestow, grant, confer; a gift, favor; polite term for giving something to someone of higher status.
A legendary giant turtle in Chinese mythology, known for its immense strength; also refers to something grand or powerful.
to give to the needy; to provide relief; to aid
To continue; to carry on; to succeed
To compensate; to pay for losses; to make amends
To redeem; to atone for; to make amends
Lai — to rely on, depend on; to blame, repudiate; to hang on in a place
To present gifts (especially horses and silk) to assist with funeral expenses; funeral gift; contribution toward funeral expenses.
Superfluous, redundant; to marry into and live with wife's family; to add unnecessarily.
To give money or gifts to help with funeral expenses; to contribute to funeral costs.
To earn, to make a profit; to gain; to be profitable.
To compete; to match; a contest or competition
Profound, abstruse, deep, mysterious — refers to something that is profound, deep,; often used in classical and literary contexts.
Counterfeit, fake, spurious — refers to something that is not genuine, especially
To praise, commend, approve; to support, assist; a unit of ancient currency
Yun — a rare character meaning 'elegant, refined, handsome'; often used in names to convey beauty, grace, and refinement.
To give as a gift; to present; to bestow upon someone.
To support financially; to provide for; to be abundant
Win — to win, to gain, to profit; also used in the surname Ying.
Gan — refers to Jiangxi Province; the Gan River; abbreviation for Gannan
Red; bare, naked; loyal, sincere
Reddish color; ancient term for a type of red pigment or dye.
to pardon; to remit (a punishment); to grant amnesty
To blush; to flush with shame or embarrassment; to feel ashamed.
Red; reddish color; crimson hue.
Red; crimson; flushed with red
Deep red; crimson; scarlet
bright red; conspicuous; grand
Deep red; crimson; scarlet
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.