Browse meaningful Chinese characters for names — pronunciations, core meanings, radicals, stroke counts, and structure.
A type of ancient plucked string instrument; a surname; historically refers to the Ruan ethnic group in Vietnam.
Foundation, base; site, location; foot of a hill
An ancient place name, referring to a mountain in the south of; used in classical Chinese poetry.
Pit, trap, pitfall; specifically a trap dug to capture animals.
to defend; to guard against; to prevent
The sun; sunlight; positive (as opposed to yin)
yin — the feminine/passive principle in Chinese philosophy; shade; shadow
battle array; formation; position
step; stair; rank
To level or flatten land; to stabilize or settle; an ancient term related to earthworks or terrain modification.
A narrow pass; a strategic point; to be in distress
A hunting enclosure or trap for catching wild animals; a hunting ground in ancient times.
A steep riverbank; a cliff; a slope
to hinder; to obstruct; to block
The eastern steps (of a hall or temple), traditionally used by the; throne, imperial authority.
To be in danger; to be on the brink of disaster; precarious.
Ancient character referring to a mountain slope, hillside, or mountain path; variant form of 岭 (mountain ridge).
A prefix used before kinship terms, names, or titles to express familiarity; also refers to a hill or mound.
A steep hill or bank; spiral, whirling; used in Buddhist terminology and place names.
Sloping; inclined; uneven ground
slope; bank; embankment
An ancient surname; a rare character with limited usage in modern Chinese.
to attach; to add; to be close to
border, boundary; edge, margin; occasion, time
land; mainland; continent
Long — refers to Longshan Mountain in Gansu province; an abbreviation for Gansu province; a raised path between fields.
To arrange, display; to state, explain; old, ancient
A mountain pass; a narrow gorge; a defile
To collapse; to fall; ruin
humble; lowly; mean
Path between fields; road; unfamiliar
To descend; to fall; to lower
An ancient place name; a surname.
An ancient term for melon; also used as a variant form in historical texts.
limit; restriction; boundary
An ancient place name; refers to a hill or mound, particularly associated with a location in
Dangerous, precarious; a dangerous bank or embankment.
A marshy, low-lying place; a swampy area.
A step or terrace; one of the nine divisions (陔) in ancient court music; to complete or make up a number.
Shanxi Province (abbreviation); Shaanxi Province (abbreviation); narrow pass or defile
Steep, precipitous; dangerous mountain pass; stern, severe.
Steep, precipitous; high and dangerous.
A mountain pass; a narrow gorge or defile between mountains; a narrow path or passage.
A riverbank or shore; an ancient place name.
A levy or tax; an ancient term for a land tax or military service obligation.
The steps leading up to a throne; the imperial throne or court; used in reference to the emperor.
Narrow pass; gorge; also refers to Shaanxi province (archaic form).
Shanxi — refers to Shaanxi province in China; also used in historical place names.
To rise; to ascend; to be promoted (in rank or position).
To ascend; to climb; to rise
Slope; incline; slanting surface.
steep, precipitous; suddenly, abruptly
courtyard; yard; institution
battle formation; array; position
To remove, eliminate, get rid of; except, besides; in mathematics, to divide
To fall into, sink, trap; to be caught in a predicament; to subside or cave in.
A rare character meaning a small mound or hillock; also used in place names.
Precarious; unstable; dangerous position
fall, tumble down; meteorite; to perish, decline
dangerous, perilous, risk; a strategic pass; treacherous, sinister
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.