How many strokes does the Chinese character "明" (míng) have?
"明" has 8 strokes in Simplified Chinese. Its primary dictionary radical is 日, and you can animate or practice writing every stroke in order using the interactive grid on this page.
Ready · 8 strokes
Speed:
Virtues & Core Values
Name: Good with Pairing
Tattoo: Better in a Phrase
明 Bright in Chinese (míng)
Dictionary Summary
明 (míng) means Ming Dynasty (1368–1644); surname Ming; Ming (c. 2000 BC), fourth of the legendary Flame Emperors, 炎帝[Yan2 di4] descended from Shennong 神農|神农[Shen2 nong2] Farmer God. Simplified form has 8 strokes under radical 日.
Pinyin & Tonemíng (Tone 2)
Simplified / Trad.明 / 明
Radical日
Total Strokes8 strokes
StructureLeft–Right (日 + 月)
Unicode / LevelU+660E · HSK 1
Native Naming & Tattoo Safety Review
🪪 Using “明” in a Chinese Name · Good with Pairing (Unisex)
Clear, intelligent, and luminous. Avoid old-fashioned pairings like 明华 or 明强; modern pairings such as 明轩, 明朗, or 明哲 feel crisp and timeless.
✒️ Using “明” for a Tattoo · Better in a Phrase
While visually iconic (sun + moon), 明 alone can be mistaken for 明天 (tomorrow). Pairing as 光明 (radiant light) or 清明 (lucid clarity) adds clear artistic intent.
Character Etymology & CC-CEDICT Meanings
Origin & Visual Logic: A famous ideographic fusion of the sun (日) and moon (月) shining together—symbolizing brilliance and clear understanding.
| Traditional / Simplified | Pinyin | CC-CEDICT Definitions |
|---|---|---|
| 明 / 明 | Míng | Ming Dynasty (1368–1644); surname Ming; Ming (c. 2000 BC), fourth of the legendary Flame Emperors, 炎帝[Yan2 di4] descended from Shennong 神農|神农[Shen2 nong2] Farmer God |
| 明 / 明 | míng | bright; opposite: dark 暗[an4]; (of meaning) clear |
Lexical entries derived from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Make Me a Hanzi (APL / LGPL-3.0).
Common Words & Idioms Using “明”
| Chinese Word | Pinyin | English Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 光明 | guāngmíng | bright and promising | |
| 聪明 | cōngmíng | intelligent and clever | |
| 明白 | míngbai | clear; to understand |
English Names Using “明” in Our Curated Recommendations
See how native speakers pair 明 (míng) into modern Chinese names:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is "明" good to use in a real Chinese name?
Rating: Good with Pairing (Unisex). Clear, intelligent, and luminous. Avoid old-fashioned pairings like 明华 or 明强; modern pairings such as 明轩, 明朗, or 明哲 feel crisp and timeless.
Is "明" safe as a Chinese character tattoo?
Tattoo rating: Better in a Phrase. While visually iconic (sun + moon), 明 alone can be mistaken for 明天 (tomorrow). Pairing as 光明 (radiant light) or 清明 (lucid clarity) adds clear artistic intent.