One Hundred Names
Part of the canon of Classical Chinese literature is the Hundred Family Names 百家姓 Bǎi jiā xìng. The Han Chinese have a small number of family names, and one colloquial way to refer to the Chinese people is as the 老百姓 Lǎo bǎi xìng Venerable hundred surnames or just 百姓 Bǎi xìng Hundred names. The term refers to the ‘ordinary working people’ not the government or rulers. There are actually 504 names in this list of names which dates back to the Song dynasty.
Young aspiring scholars would learn these names by heart, it is one way to learn a few hundred characters. Most of the characters have meanings other than just the name, so learning the names is more useful than would otherwise seem; for example Qián as well as being a family name also means money. The names are arranged in lines of usually eight names in rhyming couplets.
The names are not in order of frequency of the family names, although it is true that the more common ones are near the top. Some of the most common names in China are Wang 王, Chen 陈, Li 李, Zhang 张 and Liu 刘. Towards the end of the list are some of the rarer two character family names. Although there are now about 3,000 family names only about 250 are common.
Here is the full list of names, they are written in both the modern, simplified and then the traditional form if this is different. You will find the second, traditional form in any documents pre-1960 and these are still in use in Taiwan, Hong Kong and by most overseas Chinese. The Chinese character(s) and pinyin are followed by the meaning in English and after that different pronunciations of the character in other Chinese languages such as Cantonese, Hakka, Vietnamese, Malaysian. Because the spoken sound can vary so much it is important to track down the actual written character for the name so that family ancestry can be traced.
赵 趙Zhào go away rapidlyChew, Chieu, Chu, Chiu.
冯 馮Féng running horseFoong, Fung, Pang
陈 陳Chén displayChin, Chan, Tan.
卫 衛Wèi protect
沈 Shěn
韩 韓Hán
朱 Zhū scarletChu, Tu, Gee.
许 許Xǔ permitHui, Huie, Hsu
何 Hé carryHor, Ko, Ho.
施 Shī give awaySze
张 張Zhāng open up (stretching a bow)Cheung, Chong, Teoh, Teo, Chiang, Cheong, Jong, Tiong.
孔 Kǒng hole
华 華Huà
金 Jīn gold
魏 Wèi Wei, Gooi
姜 Jiāng
戚 慼Qī relative
谢 謝Xiè thankDea, Der, Deer, Che, She, Tse, Tze
邹 鄒Zōu
喻 Yù analogy
柏 Bǎi cedar
水 Shuǐ water
窦 竇Dòu holeTou
章 Zhāng chapter
云 Yún cloud
苏 囌Sū revive
潘 Pān
葛 Gě
奚 Xī what
范 範Fàn model
彭 Péng
郎 Láng youth

昌 Chāng flatter
马 馬Mǎ horseMah, Mar
凤 鳳Fèng phoenix
花 Huā blossom
方 Fāng square, regionFong
俞 Yú approve
任 Rèn appoint
袁 Yuán robe
柳 Liǔ willow
酆 Fēng
鲍 鮑Bào
史 Shǐ history
唐 Táng Tang dynasty

费 費Fèi expenses
廉 㢘Lián un-corrupt, reasonable
岑 Cén hillockSam, Sum, Shum, Tsen, Gim
薛 Xuē grassHsueh
贺 賀Hè congratulate
倪 Ní
汤 湯Tāng soupTong, Hong
滕 Téng
殷 Yīn flourishing
罗 羅Luó gather, arrange Law, Loh, Lo, Lao.
郝 Hǎo
邬 鄔Wū
安 Ān peace, calm
常 Cháng often
乐 樂Lè happy, musicYue
于 Yú with, at/in
时 旹Shí time
傅 Fù tutor
皮 Pí skin
卞 Biàn hurried
齐 齊Qí even
康 Kāng ease, healthHong
伍 Wǔ battalionNg, Eng
余 Yú I, meYu, Yee
元 Yuán first, origin, currencyNgeun
卜 Bǔ to prospect
顾 顧Gù look about
孟 Mèng first
平 Píng level
黄 黃Huáng yellowWong, Hwang, Ng, Wee, Oei, Ooi, Bong, Huynh, Hwang

Ancient Chinese numerology
The Chinese have studied the properties of numbers from ancient times. Many interesting beliefs came from the magic square that unified other traditions such as yin-yang, five elements, compass directions and the taiju figure. Read more…穆 Mù solemn
萧 蕭Xiāo mournfulSiew, Siu, Seow, Hsiao
尹 Yǐn rule
姚 Yáo
邵 Shào
湛 Zhàn deep water
汪 Wāng lake
祁 Qí
毛 Máo fur, hair
狄 Dí barbarian
米 Mǐ uncooked rice
贝 貝Bèi cowrie shell
明 Míng clear, bright
臧 Zāng good
计 計Jì ruse, plan
伏 Fú conceal, submit
成 Chéng complete
戴 Dài wear
谈 談Tán discuss
宋 Sòng Name of the Song dynasty
茅 Máo thatch
庞 龐Páng huge
熊 Xióng bear (animal)
纪 紀Jǐ discipline
舒 Shū relax
屈 Qū wronged, bent
项 項Xiàng nape
祝 Zhù invoke
董 Dǒng supervise
梁 Liáng roof beam, bridgeLeong, Leung
杜 Dù fabricate
阮 Ruǎn
蓝 藍Lán basket
闵 閔Mǐn empathize
席 Xí banquet
季 Jì season
麻 蔴Má hemp, numb
强 強Qiáng

Next Festival
Friday 29th August 2025
Chinese Valentine’s Day (Qīxìjié 七夕节)
Read more...
路 Lù road
娄 婁Lóu star
危 Wēi
江 Jiāng riverChiang, Gong
童 Tóng boy, child
颜 顏Yán color
郭 Guō city wallKwok, Gwok.
梅 Méi plumMoy, Mui, Bui
盛 Shèng flourish
林 Lín forest, woodsLam, Lim, Lum.
钟 鍾Zhōng bell
徐 Xú slow, gradualShu, Shaw, Seah, Hsu, Shi, Choi.
骆 駱Luò camel

It shows the variability of color within a block of jade. Here the artist has used the variation to exquisite effect.
Image by Artfiber ➚ available under a Creative Commons license ➚
高 Gāotall, highKao, Gou, Go.
蔡 Cài Chai, Chua, Chye, Choy, Tsai
樊 Fán cage
胡 Hú beard, recklessWu, Hu, Oh, Foo.
霍 Huò
虞 Yú
万 萬Mòmyriad, ten thousandWan, Mon, Maan, Won
支 Zhī
柯 Kēbranches
昝 Zǎn
管 筦Guǎn control
卢 盧Lú
莫 Mò do not, is not
经 經Jīng
房 Fáng
裘 Qiú fur coat
缪 繆Miào
干 乹Gān dry
解 Xiè
应 應Yìng answer
宗 Zōng familyDung, Tsung
丁 Dīng 4th heavenly stem
宣 Xuān
贲 賁Bēn energeticBi
邓 鄧Dèng Teng, Tang, Thien, Thean, Thian
郁 欝Yù elegant
单 單Shàn
杭 Háng Hangzhou
洪 Hóng floodHung
包 Bāo wrap, coverGao
诸 諸Zhū many
左 Zuǒ left (as opposed to right)
石 Shí stone, rock
崔 Cuī high mountain, precipice
吉 Jí lucky
钮 鈕Niǔ button
龚 龔Gōng

All the tea in China
Tea was the most important export that was weighed in the traditional Chinese unit of measurement called a 'catty'. It is known colloquially as the Chinese pound and is about 1.1pounds. In China it is known as the jin 斤 the word catty probably came from the Malay word. The modern weight is aligned to the metric system as exactly 500grams. The container for tea, a 'caddy', is believed to have been named after the measure.
嵇 Jī inspect
邢 Xíng
滑 Huá cunning
裴 Péi
陆 陸Lù landLuk
荣 榮Róng gloriousWing, Wheng
翁 Wēng old man
荀 Xún
羊 Yáng sheep, goat
於 Wū
惠 Huì favor
甄 Zhēn form
曲 Qū
家 傢Jiā home, family
封 Fēng grant, confer
芮 Ruì small
羿 Yì
储 儲Chǔ savings
靳 Jìn
汲 Jí fetch water
邴 Bǐng happy
糜 Mí dissolved
松 Sōng loose
井 Jǐng pit
段 Duàn portion
富 Fù rich, good fortune
巫 Wū wizard
乌 烏Wū crow, black
焦 Jiāo scorched
巴 Bā hope
弓 Gōng longbow
牧 Mù shepherd
隗 Kuí Kui, Wei
山 Shān mountain
谷 穀Gǔ valley
车 車Chē vehicle
侯 Hóu marquis
宓 Mì silent
蓬 Péng disheveled

Imperial Examinations
One of China's most important exports was the respect for scholarship and learning. China was the first nation to appoint on basis of what they knew rather than who they knew. Strict examinations were set up two thousand years ago and were the passport to a quieter life with a steady income. Read more…郗 Chī
班 Bān class
仰 Yǎng admire, respect
秋 Qiū autumn, fall
仲 Zhòng
伊 Yī he/she
宫 宮Gōng palace
宁 寕Nìng peaceful
仇 Qiú matchQiu, Chou
栾 欒Luán
暴 Bào cruel
甘 Gān sweet, pleasant
钭 鈄Tǒu Dou, Tou
厉 厲Lì severe
戎 Róng weapon
祖 Zǔ ancestor
武 Wǔ martial
符 Fú coincide
刘 劉Liú killLau, Lou, Low, Lew.
詹 Zhān excellentChaim
束 Shù bind
龙 龍Lóng dragonLung, Loong
叶 葉Yè leaf, pageYeh, Yap, Yep, Yip
幸 倖Xìng fortunate
司 Sī company
韶 Sháo harmonious
郜 Gào
黎 Lí blackLi, Lai, Le
蓟 薊Jì
薄 Bó slight, thin
印 Yìn print
宿 㝛Sù former
白 Bái gratuitous
怀 懷Huái cherish
蒲 Pú
邰 Tái
从 從Cóng unhurried
鄂 È Hubei
索 Suǒ isolated
咸 Xián all
籍 Jí register
赖 賴Lài disclaim, depend on
卓 Zhuó surpassing, distinguished
蔺 藺Lìn
屠 Tú slaughter
蒙 濛Méng hoodwink
池 Chí pond
乔 喬Qiáo tall
阴 陰Yīn cloudy, negative
郁 欝Yù melancholy
胥 Xū assist
能 Néng energy
苍 蒼Cāng dark blue
双 雙Shuāng pair
闻 聞Wén hear
莘 Shēn
党 黨Dǎng
翟 Zhái Zhe, Di
谭 譚Tán chatTam, Ham, Hom, Hum, Thom, Tom
贡 貢Gòng gift
劳 勞Láo toil
逄 Páng
Cracking China book

Your A-Z key to understanding China
We are proud to announce a printed book all about China based loosely on this web site. It is a set of sixty topics in A-Z order covering everything from hair to kiwifruit, clapping to rhubarb, eunuchs to dragons. Buying a copy will help support Chinasage. Now available as a Kindle eBook for just $3.90.
Details... ➚申 Shēn 9th earthly branch, extend
扶 Fú support
堵 Dǔ wall, stifle
冉 冄Rǎn
宰 Zǎi govern, slaughter
郦 酈Lì
雍 Yōng harmonious
却 㕁卻Xì
璩 Qú jade ring
桑 Sāng mulberry
桂 Guì laurel, cassia
濮 Pú
牛 Niú cow, ox
寿 壽Shòu long life, age
通 Tōng know well, expert
边 邊Biān side, border
扈 Hù retinue
燕 Yān
郏 郟Jiá
浦 Pǔ river bank, shore
尚 Shàng esteemSheung
农 農Nóng peasant, diligent
Book of Changes - Deciphered

The Yi Jing is the premier ancient classic in China, and yet at the heart of this very strange but important book is a mystery that has remained unsolved for 3,000 years. The ‘Book of Changes - Deciphered’ describes the history and importance of the Yi Jing (I Ching) and proposes a new solution to the ancient mystery. Buying a copy will help support Chinasage. Now also available in Kindle eBook format for just $5.99.
Details... ➚别 別Bié leave, classify
庄 Zhuāng village, farmstead
晏 Yàn quiet, late
柴 Chái firewood
瞿 Qú
阎 閻Yán village gate
充 Chōng satisfy, substitute
慕 Mù admire
连 連Lián join
茹 Rú eat, vegetables
习 習Xí practice
宦 Huàn eunuch
艾 Ài
鱼 魚Yú fish
容 Róng contain
向 Xiàng towards
古 Gǔ ancientKoo
易 Yì change
慎 Shèn careful
戈 Gē spear
廖 Liào Lew
庾 Yǔ
终 終Zhōng finish
暨 Jì reach
居 Jū reside
衡 Héng weigh, measure
步 Bù walk, march
都 Dū metropolis, all
耿 Gěng bright
满 滿滿Mǎn fill, pack
弘 Hóng liberal, great
匡 Kuāng aid, reformHong
国 國Guó nation, countryGok, Gauk, Gwock.
文 Wén literary
寇 㓂Kòu plunder, bandit
广 廣Guǎng wide, vast
禄 祿Lù good fortune
阙 闕Quē
东 東Dōng east

Kites
Along with many other things the Chinese lay claim to the invention of the kite remains very popular in China and many can be seen flying in public parks. In the past they have even been used for military purposes. Read more…殳 Shū spear
沃 Wò fertile, irrigate
利 Lì sharp, benefit
蔚 Yù impressive
越 Yuè surpass, exceed
夔 Kuí rain god
隆 Lóng intense, swell
师 師Shī teacher, master
巩 鞏Gǒng secure, solid
厍 厙Shè
聂 聶Niè whisper
晁 Cháo
勾 Gōu attract, collude, affair
敖 Áo ramble, rove
融 Róng melt

The Chinese Emperor
The institution of Emperor, as head of the Chinese family of people, lasted for thousands of years and to some extent lives on with the Presidency. In China there has been great respect for the Emperor/President who in turn is expected to rule wisely with the best interests of his subjects in mind. To early European visitors to China the structure was considered close to the ideal form of society. Read more…訾 Zī wealth, backbite
辛 Xīn hot, suffering
阚 闞Kàn glance, peep
那 Nā that, thenNuo
简 簡Jiǎn simple, letter
饶 饒Ráo abundant, bonus
空 Kōng empty, sky
曾 Zēng great-grandfatherTseng, Dont, Tsang, Cheng, Chng, Jeng.
毋 Wú nobody, no
沙 Shā sandSa
乜 Miē squint
养 養Yǎng
鞠 Jū bring up
须 須Xū mustache, beard
丰 Fēng luxuriant, buxom
巢 Cháo nest
关 關Guān shut, passKuan, Kwan, Quan.
蒯 Kuǎi a rush
相 Xiāng appearance, mutual
查 Zhā
后 Hòu behind, back
荆 荊Jīng thorns, brambles
红 紅Hóng red
游 Yóu roam, swim
竺 Zhú
权 權Quán power, authority
逯 Lù wandering
盖 蓋Gě lid, canopy
益 Yì
桓 Huán
公 Gōng public, common, male
万俟 Mò qí
司马 司馬Sī mǎ army general or minister of warSzema, Seema.
欧阳 歐陽Ōu yáng Europe, brightAuyong, Owyang
夏侯 Xià hóu
诸葛 諸葛Zhū gě
闻人 聞人Wén rén Famous person
东方 東方Dōng fāng the East
赫连 赫連Hè lián
皇甫 Huáng fǔ
尉迟 尉遲Yù chí(in other contexts the first character is pronounced 'wèi')
公羊 Gōng yáng ram
澹台 Tán tái
公冶 Gōng yě
宗政 Zōng zhèng
濮阳 濮陽Pú yáng
淳于 Chún yú
单于 單于Chán yú (in other contexts the first character is pronounced 'shàn')
太叔 Tài shū
申屠 Shēn tú
公孙 公孫Gōng sūn
仲孙 仲孫Zhòng sūn
轩辕 軒轅Xuān yuán
令狐 Líng hú
Years
The traditional cycle of astrological years is associated with twelve animals, each of these are combined with one of five elements to give a total cycle length of 60 years. The cycle of animals is rat; ox; tiger; rabbit; dragon; snake; horse; sheep; monkey; rooster; dog and pig.Read more…
宇文 Yǔ wén
长孙 長孫Zhǎng sūn
慕容 Mù róng
鲜于 尟于Xiān yú
闾丘 閭丘Lǘ qiū
司徒 Sī túMinister for Land and People Sutu, Seto
司空 Sī kōngMinister for Public Works
丌官 Qí guān(in other contexts the first character is pronounced 'jī')
司寇 司㓂Sī kòu
仉 Zhǎng mother
督 Dū supervise

子车 子車Zǐ chē
颛孙 顓孫Zhuān sūn
端木 Duān mù
巫马 巫馬Wū mǎ
公西 Gōng xī
漆雕 漆彫Qī diāo
乐正 樂正Yuè zhèng
壤驷 壤駟Rǎng sì
公良 Gōng liáng
拓跋 Tuò bá
夹谷 夾穀Jā gǔ
宰父 Zǎi fù
谷梁 穀梁Gǔ liáng
晋 晉Jìn promote, advance
法 㳒Fǎ law, method
汝 Rǔ
鄢 Yān
涂 塗Tú smear, daub
钦 欽Qīn respect, venerate
段干 段乹Duàn gān
百里 百裏Bǎi lǐ
东郭 東郭Dōng guō
南门 南門Nán mén
呼延 Hū yán
归 歸Guī give back
海 Hǎi sea, ocean
羊舌 Yáng shé
微生 Wēi shēng
岳 Yuè high mountain
帅 帥Shuài handsome, graceful
缑 緱Gōu
亢 Kòng overbearing, (may be pronounced kàng)
况 況Kuàng
郈 Hòu
有 Yǒu have, exist
琴 Qín musical instrument

A history of Chinese Painting
China has a very long tradition of painting. Most painting is done with the same style of brush and ink as calligraphy. Landscapes are the most cherished but exquisite paintings of nature subjects and portraits are also well represented. Read more…左丘 Zuǒ qiū
东门 東門Dōng mén
西门 西門Xī mén
商 Shāng Shang dynasty; merchant
牟 Móu barley, obtain
佘 Shé
佴 Nài(in other contexts the character is pronounced 'èr')
伯 Bó uncle (may be pronounced bà
赏 賞Shǎng bestow
南宫 南宮Nán gōng
墨 Mò ink stick
哈 Hǎ laughter
谯 譙Qiáo ridicule
笪 Dá
年 Nián year
爱 愛Ài love, like
阳 陽Yáng yang as opposed to yin
佟 Tóng Tung
第五 Dì wǔ fifth
言 Yán speech
福 Fú Fujian, good fortune
百家姓终 百傢姓終Bǎi jiā xìng Zhōng 100 Chinese names complete