Browse meaningful Chinese characters for names — pronunciations, core meanings, radicals, stroke counts, and structure.
To exert effort; to put forth strength; also used in some dialects as a variant form.
Eldest brother; uncle; father's elder brother
estimate, appraise, evaluate; reckon, calculate
You (archaic/variant form of 你); used in classical texts and some dialects.
We, us (dialectal); I, me (dialectal); our (dialectal)
Archaic or rare character meaning: 1. extravagant, wasteful; 2. arrogant, proud; 3. variant form used in ancient texts.
companion, partner; to accompany, to keep company with
Ancient variant form of 侐 (xù), meaning quiet, still, or solemn; also an archaic character.
actor, performer; clever, intelligent; lonely, solitary
A rare character meaning descendant, progeny, or heir; an ancient variant form of 胄.
to stretch, extend, straighten out; to state, express; to act as a go-between
Clumsy, dull, stupid; an ancient term for a laborer or servant.
to wait upon; to serve; to attend
A messenger; an envoy; to dispatch
to resemble; to be similar to; to seem
Transliteration character for Sanskrit sounds, used in Buddhist terms; also used in words related to physics (gamma).
Numerous; abundant; mighty
An archaic character meaning lazy, indolent, or negligent; rarely used in modern Chinese.
To resemble; to be similar to; a surname.
1. still; motionless; calm
An ancient term meaning 'to go on a military expedition' or 'to
To cultivate land; tenant farmer; to rent land for farming.
Ancient character meaning drunk, intoxicated; variant of 酣.
An ancient term referring to a type of barbarian music or dance; archaic and rare in modern usage.
but; however; only
to stand for a long time; to wait; to linger
to announce; to declare; to spread
An ancient transliteration character, primarily used in Buddhist terms and historical names; to carry away, to remove.
Wicked, perverse; to discard, to abandon; uneven, biased.
To continue; to carry on; an ancient term meaning to inherit or succeed
Small; petty; insignificant
position; location; seat
low; to lower; to hang down
to live, reside; to stop, cease; to stay
To assist; to aid; assistant
to protect; to bless; to assist
Arrogant; proud; to look down upon others.
body; form; substance
to occupy; to seize; to take possession of
What; why; how
To fill; to be full; abundant
To carry a load; burdened; also used in names, notably the historical figure Hua Tuo.
A Chinese surname (Shé); also used in some place names.
I, me (literary); surplus, remainder; after, beyond
To be lost; to disappear; to be scattered
Buddha; Buddhism; Buddhist
to make; to do; to act
hunchbacked; stooped; bent posture
flattering, glib; cunning, crafty; talented (archaic sense)
A Chinese surname; also used historically to refer to the Tong people, an ethnic group
you (second person singular pronoun); also used in compounds meaning 'your'.
Immortal; transcendent being; celestial person
He/him; she/her; it — third person singular pronoun used in various Chinese dialects, particularly
Servant; hired laborer; commission (in commerce)
Wa — refers to the Wa ethnic group, an indigenous people primarily
All, everyone; unanimous; to sign, to subscribe (archaic). Now primarily used as a component in
A rare character sometimes used in names; variant form with uncertain precise meaning.
An archaic character meaning 'to hinder' or 'to obstruct'; used in transliterations and historical contexts.
A rare character, variant form or ancient usage; sometimes interpreted as a variant of 抱 (to hold, embrace).
To wear (as an ornament or accessory); to carry; to admire
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.