The Knowledge Base
Naming guides
No fluff — the mechanics, the culture, the taboos. Everything we score automatically, explained for humans.
How Chinese Names Work: Structure, Sounds & Meaning
The complete anatomy of Chinese names: surname first, given-name structure, tone patterns, generational names, and why meaning beats transliteration.
📖Five Elements in Chinese Naming (Wǔxíng)
How Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water shape Chinese names: find your year element, apply the generating cycle, choose harmonizing characters.
📖Chinese Naming Culture: Traditions Behind the Characters
Generational names, milk names, courtesy names, naming taboos across dynasties — how Chinese families have named children for 3,000 years.
📖Chinese Naming Taboos: Combinations to Avoid
Unlucky homophones, tonal clunkers, dated characters and cultural landmines — the mistakes that make Chinese names mockable, and how to check for them.
📖How to Choose YOUR Chinese Name: A Practical Framework
A decision framework for picking a Chinese name as a foreigner: phonetic echo vs pure meaning, testing with natives, formal vs casual registers.