Browse meaningful Chinese characters for names — pronunciations, core meanings, radicals, stroke counts, and structure.
A rare character with uncertain meaning, possibly a variant form or archaic
Bowl — a monk's alms bowl; a bowl or basin, especially one used in Buddhist contexts for receiving
A metal ring or metal object; an ancient metal tool or ornament.
Hook — a curved implement for catching, holding, or pulling; to hook or secure with a hook; a checkmark symbol
Shu — an ancient term for a long needle; to stitch or embroider; to inculcate or instill persistently.
Zheng — an ancient bronze percussion instrument resembling a bell with a; also refers to a small metal gong.
Mǔ — an old term for a cooking pot or cauldron; used historically to refer to metal cooking vessels.
Ancient Chinese term for a type of decorative hairpin or ornament; also a rare surname.
Xi — an ancient seal or stamp; an archaic form of 璽 (imperial seal); also used in historical contexts for official seals.
Di — an ancient Chinese tripod vessel with three legs and two
Jia — a rare character primarily used in personal names and place; also refers to a type of metal or metal tool.
Molybdenum — a silvery-white metallic chemical element (symbol Mo, atomic number 42),
Tantalum — a rare, hard, blue-gray, lustrous transition metal that is highly
Arsine — a chemical compound of arsenic and hydrogen; also refers to arsonium compounds in chemistry.
Yttrium — a metallic chemical element with symbol Y and atomic number; also refers to a rare earth element used in various technologies.
A rare character used in historical texts, possibly referring to a type
Mineral; ore; mine — refers to mineral resources, mining operations, and related industrial activities.
Kǎ — a chemical element (californium, Cf); also used in some transliterations.
Berkelium — a synthetic radioactive chemical element with symbol Bk and atomic
To inspect, examine, reflect; a mirror; to serve as a warning or example
A type of ancient axe or tool; also refers to a bell or chime used in ancient times.
Xing — an ancient sacrificial vessel used in rituals; specifically refers to a type of tripod cauldron with handles used in
A type of crossbow mechanism; an ancient weapon component.
Hinge; to cut with scissors; scissors
A type of ancient cooking vessel or cauldron; also used in historical texts to refer to a kind of ladle
Erbium — a chemical element with symbol Er and atomic number 68; a silvery-white rare earth metal.
Chromium — a hard, lustrous metallic chemical element (Cr, atomic number 24); also refers to plating with chromium.
Gold ingot; metal plate; ancient coin
Shi — an ancient type of sacrificial vessel or tripod used in; also appears in some rare personal names.
Spear; halberd; ancient weapon with a long shaft and pointed metal head
Hafnium — a chemical element with symbol Hf and atomic number 72; also refers to a type of metal.
Silver — a precious metal; money; currency
An ancient unit of weight equal to 30 catties (approximately 15 kilograms); also used in ancient times as a measure for gold.
A rare character referring to a type of ancient metal ornament or; also used as a surname in some contexts.
Gun; firearm; cannon
A rare character with two readings. As xiǎng, it refers to a
Copper — a reddish-brown metallic element; bronze; money
Molybdenum — a silvery-white metallic chemical element used in steel alloys; also refers to a type of ancient weapon or tool.
A type of tool or implement; an ancient term for a specific kind of metal tool or weapon.
Ancient type of metal ornament or decoration; archaic character for a specific metal object.
Ancient term for the trigger of a crossbow; also used in historical texts for certain tools or implements.
The sound of a saw cutting wood; a scraping or grating sound; an ancient term for a type of saw.
A rare character with uncertain meaning; possibly refers to the sound of metal striking or a type of; also appears in some ancient texts with unclear interpretation.
A tool used for sharpening knives or swords; a whetstone or sharpening block.
Zhi — an ancient type of sickle used for harvesting grain; also an ancient place name in modern Anhui province.
Socket; hole for inserting a handle in an axe or other tool; the upper part of an ancient weapon where the handle is inserted.
An ancient term for a type of iron tool or implement; also refers to a type of iron used in ancient times.
To clear land; to cut down grass and trees; to weed.
Xian — refers to a type of steel; to mill or polish metal; in ancient usage, refers to a kind of metal with fine patterns.
Xing — an ancient type of wine vessel or cauldron; also refers to a type of ancient weapon or tool.
To weigh, measure, evaluate; to select or appoint officials based on merit; a unit of weight in ancient China.
Ancient type of crossbow; a type of arrowhead used in ancient Chinese weaponry.
Iron — a strong, hard magnetic metal; weapon; firm, unyielding
Zhu — an ancient Chinese unit of weight equal to 1/24 of; a small amount; used in historical and literary contexts.
Ancient bronze vessel; a type of ancient container or vessel used in ritual ceremonies.
To engrave, inscribe; an inscription; a motto
Kuǎ — an ancient decorative metal plate or belt ornament used in; also refers to a type of ancient weight measurement.
A type of ancient cooking vessel with a handle and spout; also refers to a large hoe or spade.
Sharp — refers to something sharp-pointed or keen-edged; an ancient weapon or tool with a sharp point; also used to describe sharpness or keenness.
To hold in the mouth; to bear; to contain
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.