Browse meaningful Chinese characters for names — pronunciations, core meanings, radicals, stroke counts, and structure.
An onomatopoeic character representing a hissing or sizzling sound, like that of
To roar; to shout; a loud sound. (Note: This character is rare in modern usage.)
An archaic character used in ancient texts, often appearing in the compound
To whisper; to speak softly; to slander or gossip secretly.
Ear; side of the head; to whisper in someone's ear.
jaw; to speak boldly; to argue
Onomatopoeia for a loud, crashing, clanging, or banging sound, often metallic.
To roar; to shout angrily; to scold
To bite; to gnaw; to laugh heartily (archaic usage)
An interjection expressing surprise, doubt, or curiosity; equivalent to 'Huh?', 'Oh?', or 'Eh?' in English.
To grin; to bare teeth; to draw back corners of the mouth
to consult; to inquire; to seek advice
The bleating sound of a sheep; onomatopoeia for sheep's cry.
Onomatopoeia for the sound a cat makes; also used to represent the English word 'meter' in transliterations.
Chinese unit of length equal to eight inches; ancient measure of distance; used metaphorically for something very close or short distance.
to bite; to gnaw; to grip with teeth
Onomatopoeia for sounds like laughter, giggling, or mechanical clicks; also used in transliterations.
A bird's beak or bill; the tip of a bird's beak; to peck.
Onomatopoeic particle indicating laughter, confirmation, or conclusion; also used in words for coughing or vomiting.
A rare character meaning to taste or sip; archaic usage found in classical texts.
we, us (inclusive); I, me (colloquial, especially in Northern dialects); now, at present
to bloom, to smile, to laugh (archaic/literary usage)
To cough; an interjection expressing surprise or regret; also used in onomatopoeia.
Onomatopoeia for the sound of a horse neighing or snorting; also used in the name of a chemical compound.
to boast; to brag; to talk big
To breathe; to pant; to gasp
To cry loudly; to wail; to sob.
all; everyone; everything
To eat; to stuff food into the mouth; to speak incoherently
Brilliant, radiant; majestic appearance; used in ancient personal names.
To make noise; to clamor; to hoot
Wry, crooked, askew; a surname; also used phonetically in characters.
To swallow; throat; pharynx
Interjection expressing surprise or emphasis; dialectal word meaning old or aged; used in some dialects to indicate completion of an action.
Onomatopoeic character representing creaking, squeaking, or whimpering sounds; also used in words describing baby talk or childish speech.
sorrow, grief, mourning; to pity, to lament
Product, article, grade, quality; to taste, to sample; character, moral standing.
to smile; to sneer; to laugh at
To deceive, to cheat; to fool someone; to swindle.
To coax, to humor, to soothe; to fool, to deceive; onomatopoeia for laughter or uproar.
Noise, clamor; the sound of many people talking at once.
To tremble, shiver, quiver; used to describe shaking or trembling movements.
An interjection expressing surprise, admiration, or exclamation; onomatopoeic for sounds like crying or vomiting.
To laugh; to breathe out; onomatopoeia for laughter
A classical Chinese particle used to express exclamation, question, or emphasis; equivalent to modern exclamatory or interrogative particles.
To vomit; the sound of vomiting; also used in onomatopoeia.
dialectal plural marker for pronouns (Cantonese); ground, land (alternative form)
A character used primarily in chemical and pharmaceutical contexts, especially in the
Sound; noise; to make a sound
An interjection expressing surprise, regret, dissatisfaction, or used to draw attention.
funny, comical; a punchline in comedy; amusing or humorous
Onomatopoeia for a loud clanging, banging, or crashing sound, typically metallic.
mute, dumb; hoarse, husky; (of a gun, etc.) silent
Onomatopoeic sound; phonetic representation of sounds like footsteps, gunshots, or mechanical noises; also used in transliteration.
To argue noisily; to clamor; to shout loudly in dispute.
Onomatopoeic sound; beep, chirp, or similar short electronic sound; also used to represent the sound of tearing or ripping.
To retch, vomit; (literary) the sound of a bell ringing harmoniously.
Year — used in the place name 'Hengchun' (恆春) in Taiwan, specifically
clamor; noise; uproar
To go, to proceed (Japanese kokuji character meaning 'to go forward')
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.