Chinese name character
Chinese name character 保
bǎo
The character 保 (Mandarin bǎo) appears in 8 names and 7 syllables in this reference and is spelled Poh, Pou, Pow, Bao and Pao in Malaysia. Recorded meanings include “to keep; to protect; to guarantee” and “to protect; to keep; to ensure”.
- Names and syllables
- 15
- Malaysian spellings
- 7
- Strokes
- 9
- Attested in records
- 5
15 names and syllables in this reference have 保 as one of their character options. For 5 of them, 保 is attested in records of real names; the rest are possible characters for that spelling.
Meanings of 保: the recorded options
to keep; to protect; to guarantee
in 15 character options · attested
to protect; to keep; to ensure
in 1 character options
Unihan definition: protect, safeguard, defend, care
What a name means depends on the characters the family chose and how they combine; these are options, not one definite meaning.
Malaysian spellings of 保
| Spelling | Romanization | attested in name records |
|---|---|---|
| Poh | Hokkien · Hakka · Teochew | attested in name records |
| Pou | Hokkien · Cantonese | attested in name records |
| Pow | Hokkien · Hakka | attested in name records |
| Bao | Mandarin | possible |
| Pao | romanization not stated | possible |
| Bow | Cantonese · Teochew | possible |
| Po | Hokkien · Teochew | possible |
Readings of 保 by dialect
Readings from the character options in our name records; Unihan gives Mandarin bǎo and Cantonese bou2.
8 names that can be written with 保
7 syllables that can stand for 保
Sources
- Wiktionary: 保 · en.wiktionary.org · meaning
- MDBG: 保 · mdbg.net · meaning
- Unicode Unihan Database: U+4FDD · unicode.org · meaning
Readings, meanings and stroke count: the character options in our name records and the Unicode Unihan Database (Unicode License). A spelling describes how a name is written, not anyone’s dialect or background.
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Frequently asked questions
What does 保 mean in a name?
Our records give several meanings for 保, including “to keep; to protect; to guarantee” and “to protect; to keep; to ensure”. What a name actually means depends on the characters the family chose and how they combine.
How is 保 spelled in Malaysia?
In our records 保 is spelled Poh (Hokkien, Hakka, Teochew), Pou (Hokkien, Cantonese), Pow (Hokkien, Hakka), Bao (Mandarin), Pao, Bow (Cantonese, Teochew) and Po (Hokkien, Teochew). A spelling follows a dialect’s romanization; it does not show which dialect anyone speaks.
Is every Poh written 保?
Not necessarily. The spelling Poh can also stand for 宝, 波. Only the family knows which character was chosen.