Browse meaningful Chinese characters for names — pronunciations, core meanings, radicals, stroke counts, and structure.
A downward-rightward stroke in Chinese calligraphy; to press down; to restrain.
To twist or roll with the fingers; to pinch; a twist or roll of something
To rub; to knead; to twist with hands
To grab; to seize; to pull
To take out; to pull out; to hold in the hand
To perch; to roost; to settle
To lift up; to raise; to pry open
To touch; to come into contact with; to collide with.
To weigh in the hand; to estimate or consider; to be steady or stable.
To sweep; to clean with a broom; to eliminate
To swing, brandish, wield; to select, choose (especially in the context of selecting talent).
To lift; to carry; to take up.
To lift or carry with poles or on shoulders; to support; to bear a burden.
To pick up; to gather; to collect
to teach, to instruct, to confer, to award, to give
To fall; to drop; to lose
to dig up; to scoop; to criticize
To strike; to hit; to beat
Palm — the inner surface of the hand; to be in control of; to manage
To mix; to blend; to stir
To pull; to drag; to detain
To take out, pull out, fish out, dig out; to pick (pocket); to scoop.
To pinch; to clutch tightly; to nip with fingers
A rare character used primarily in the word '桤掑' (qī qí), referring; also appears in some dialectal usage.
To arrange in order; to line up; to row
To pick up; to gather; to collect (archaic or rare usage).
Strong; firm; to hold firmly
To pull, to drag; to restrain; to detain.
To support by the arm; to tuck under the arm; to hide
To force something on someone; to press or thrust; to impose.
To dig; to excavate; to unearth
To struggle; to strive; to earn (money)
To arrange in order; to set in array; to marshal (troops).
To hang; to suspend; to put up
To mold, shape, or knead; to fabricate or make up; to grasp or hold
To split, tear apart, or divide; also used in historical texts to describe a sound or action of
To spread out; to display; to shine
To throw; to hurl; to cast
To plunder, to rob, to seize; to sweep over, to brush past; to capture, to take by force.
To pick; to pluck; to gather
To explore; to investigate; to search for
To pull; to tug; to draw
To support with both hands; to hold up; an ancient term for a quiver or arrow holder
To receive; to accept; to meet
To lift; to raise; to hold up
To control; to accuse; to charge
push; shove; promote
To cover; to conceal; to shut
To arrange; to handle; to manage
To beat the night watchman's drum; to patrol at night; to guard
To scoop up or hold with both hands; to cup in one's hands; a measure word for what can be held in two hands.
To dip; to moisten a writing brush with ink; to stir or poke gently.
To carry on the shoulder; a broker or middleman who shoulders responsibility for transactions.
To detain; to hold back; to press hard
To break apart with both hands; to snap; to split
To pickpocket; to steal; specifically refers to pickpocketing with multiple hands working together.
掲 is a Japanese kanji character meaning 'to hoist', 'to raise up',
To capture; to seize; to take as prisoner
To slap; to strike with the palm of the hand; to box someone's ears.
Japanese kokuji (character created in Japan) meaning 'fate' or 'destiny'; not used in standard Chinese.
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.