How many strokes does the Chinese character "白" (bái) have?
"白" has 5 strokes in Simplified Chinese. Its primary dictionary radical is 白, and you can animate or practice writing every stroke in order using the interactive grid on this page.
Ready · 5 strokes
Speed:
Chinese Surnames & Cultural Core
Name: Good with Pairing
Tattoo: Better in a Phrase
白 White & Pure in Chinese (bái)
Dictionary Summary
白 (bái) means surname Bai; Bai ethnic group; white. Simplified form has 5 strokes under radical 白.
Pinyin & Tonebái (Tone 2)
Simplified / Trad.白 / 白
Radical白
Total Strokes5 strokes
StructureLayered (丿 + 日)
Unicode / LevelU+767D · HSK 1
Native Naming & Tattoo Safety Review
🪪 Using “白” in a Chinese Name · Good with Pairing (Unisex)
Used both as a crisp surname (like Tang poet Bai Juyi 白居易) and in serene literary given names (e.g., 月白, 知白, 素白). Matches English B names like Benjamin or Bella.
✒️ Using “白” for a Tattoo · Better in a Phrase
Standalone 白 can mean 'blank/in vain' (白费), so pair it poetically as 清白 (pure integrity) or 月白 (pale moon-white).
Character Etymology & CC-CEDICT Meanings
Origin & Visual Logic: Derived from an acorn or clear gleaming sunlight crest—pure white radiance.
| Traditional / Simplified | Pinyin | CC-CEDICT Definitions |
|---|---|---|
| 白 / 白 | Bái | surname Bai; Bai ethnic group |
| 白 / 白 | bái | white; in vain; free of charge |
Lexical entries derived from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Make Me a Hanzi (APL / LGPL-3.0).
Common Words & Idioms Using “白”
| Chinese Word | Pinyin | English Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 白云 | báiyún | white clouds | |
| 明白 | míngbai | clear; understand | |
| 清白 | qīngbái | pure and innocent |
English Names Using “白” in Our Curated Recommendations
See how native speakers pair 白 (bái) into modern Chinese names:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is "白" good to use in a real Chinese name?
Rating: Good with Pairing (Unisex). Used both as a crisp surname (like Tang poet Bai Juyi 白居易) and in serene literary given names (e.g., 月白, 知白, 素白). Matches English B names like Benjamin or Bella.
Is "白" safe as a Chinese character tattoo?
Tattoo rating: Better in a Phrase. Standalone 白 can mean 'blank/in vain' (白费), so pair it poetically as 清白 (pure integrity) or 月白 (pale moon-white).