Browse meaningful Chinese characters for names — pronunciations, core meanings, radicals, stroke counts, and structure.
To tear; to rip; to pull apart
To break off; to snap; to sever
To select; to pick out; to eliminate
To tease, provoke, stir up; to lift up (as with a curtain); to incite or arouse (emotions)
To press down; to push down forcefully; to suppress.
To stroke; to caress; to comfort
To pry; to lever up; to lift or move something using a lever
To sow, to spread, to broadcast; to disseminate information or seeds.
To gather, collect, pick up; to scoop up with fingers; a pinch (measure word for small amounts)
To pluck, to pick, to gather; to select or choose carefully.
To write, compose, or compile; to draft (a document, article, book); to hold, grasp.
To decline; to yield; to give way
To pounce; to rush at; to throw oneself upon
To press; to push down; to depress (especially a button or switch).
To thrust or poke downward with force; to pound or thump; to set down heavily.
To drive away; to expel; to oust
A variant form of 划 (huá), meaning to row/paddle a boat; to scratch; to scrape
To pick; to pluck; to gather
To rub, stroke, or pet; to masturbate (vulgar slang); to gather or pull together
To disturb; to stir; to mix
To rush; to hurry; to stir up
To whip; to flog; to chastise
to shake; to vibrate; to rock
To strike; to beat; to attack
To beat; to strike; to knock
To pick up; to collect; to gather
To roll out (dough); to flatten with a rolling pin; to drive away
To embrace, to hug; to support, to endorse; to have, to possess
To beat; to pound; to strike
To brandish; to wield; to shake
To capture; to seize; to take as prisoner
to be good at; to be adept in; to monopolize
To pluck, pick, or gather; to select or choose (archaic usage).
choose, select, pick; to make a choice from among alternatives.
To tap; to pat; to strike lightly
To pierce; to stab; to prick.
To strike; to hit; to beat
to block; to obstruct; to resist
A trap for catching birds; a snare or bird-catching device.
To grasp, hold; to operate, control; to conduct, manage
To lift up high; to raise; to support
To guard; to warn; to be cautious
To put on, to wear (especially armor); to gird oneself with; to don.
To connect; to join; to attach. An archaic or dialectal character meaning to link or fasten
To capture; to seize; to arrest
To scratch; to scrape; to carry on the arm.
To carry on the shoulder; to bear responsibility; to undertake
To carry; to bring along; to take with one
To scrape; to scratch; to rub
To beat the breast in grief; to strike; to break off
Thumb; to split; to tear open
To rub; to press; to squeeze
To rely on, depend on; according to; evidence, basis
A rarely used character in modern Chinese, primarily found in classical texts
To strike; to beat; to hit with force. An archaic character rarely used in modern Chinese.
To pull out; to extract; to tug at something.
To shake; to tremble; to stir up
An ancient character of uncertain meaning, possibly related to grasping or holding; rarely used in modern Chinese.
To squeeze; to press; to crowd
To pull out; to extract; to select and promote
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.