Chinese name character
Chinese name character 才
cái
Traditional: 纔
The character 才 (Mandarin cái) appears in 10 names and 3 syllables in this reference and is spelled Chye, Chai and Choy in Malaysia. Recorded meanings include “talent, ability”.
- Names and syllables
- 13
- Malaysian spellings
- 3
- Strokes
- 3
- Attested in records
- 8
13 names and syllables in this reference have 才 as one of their character options. For 8 of them, 才 is attested in records of real names; the rest are possible characters for that spelling.
Meanings of 才: the recorded options
talent, ability
in 13 character options · attested
Unihan definition: talent, ability; just, only
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 才
| Spelling | Romanization |
|---|---|
| Chye | Hokkien · Teochew |
| Chai | Hokkien · Teochew |
| Choy | Cantonese · Hakka |
Readings of 才 by dialect
Readings from the character options in our name records; Unihan gives Mandarin cái and Cantonese coi4.
10 names that can be written with 才
3 syllables that can stand for 才
Sources
- MDBG: 才 · mdbg.net · meaning
- Wiktionary: 才 · en.wiktionary.org · meaning
- Unicode Unihan Database: U+624D · 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 才 mean in a name?
Our records give several meanings for 才, including “talent, ability”. What a name actually means depends on the characters the family chose and how they combine.
How is 才 spelled in Malaysia?
In our records 才 is spelled Chye (Hokkien, Teochew), Chai (Hokkien, Teochew) and Choy (Cantonese, Hakka). A spelling follows a dialect’s romanization; it does not show which dialect anyone speaks.
Is every Chye written 才?
Not necessarily. The spelling Chye can also stand for 財, 材, 彩. Only the family knows which character was chosen.