Chinese Name Meaning Lookup

Enter any Chinese name to discover its meaning, character breakdown, five elements (Wuxing), and cultural significance.

Enter Chinese characters (汉字) or pinyin to look up name meaning

Disclaimer: Cultural and linguistic interpretations are generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. For official naming purposes, consult a native speaker.

How to Read a Chinese Name

Chinese names typically consist of a surname (姓, xìng) followed by a given name (名, míng). The surname is usually one character, while the given name can be one or two characters. Each character carries its own meaning, and the combination creates a unique寓意 (yùyì) — the intended meaning or aspiration behind the name.

When looking up a Chinese name, we analyze each character individually for its:

  • Basic meaning — the dictionary definition of the character
  • Pinyin — the romanized pronunciation with tone marks
  • Stroke count — important for calligraphy and naming traditions
  • Radical — the semantic component that hints at meaning
  • Five Elements (五行) — Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, used in traditional naming

Five Elements in Chinese Names

金 (Metal)
Strength, determination, justice
木 (Wood)
Growth, vitality, kindness
水 (Water)
Wisdom, flexibility, flow
火 (Fire)
Passion, energy, brightness
土 (Earth)
Stability, honesty, grounding

Popular Chinese Names and Their Meanings

伟 (Wěi)
Great, mighty, grand
芳 (Fāng)
Fragrant, virtuous, good
静 (Jìng)
Quiet, calm, serene
强 (Qiáng)
Strong, powerful, energetic
丽 (Lì)
Beautiful, elegant, lovely
明 (Míng)
Bright, clear, brilliant
秀 (Xiù)
Elegant, outstanding, graceful
军 (Jūn)
Army, military, warrior

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I look up a Chinese name meaning?

Enter Chinese characters (汉字) or pinyin in the search box above. Our AI will analyze each character and provide the meaning, pinyin, stroke count, radical, and Five Elements (五行) attribute.

What is the Five Elements (五行) system in Chinese names?

The Five Elements (Wuxing) — Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth — are used in traditional Chinese naming to create balance. Each character is associated with an element based on its radical or meaning.

Can I look up a name using pinyin?

Yes. Enter the pinyin (e.g., "Wang Ming" or "Li Fang") and our AI will identify the most likely Chinese characters and provide their meanings.

Are the name meanings accurate?

Our AI provides character meanings based on standard Chinese dictionaries and cultural conventions. However, some interpretations may vary. For official or legal naming purposes, consult a native Chinese speaker or naming professional.