NameFerry

Chinese surname readings

How are common Chinese surnames read in Japanese?

A Chinese surname may have a Japanese kanji on-reading and a separate Katakana approximation of its Mandarin pronunciation. This chart keeps the two systems apart.

Common Chinese surnames in Japanese

108 entries: the first 100 surnames in the traditional Hundred Family Surnames text, plus eight familiar single and compound surnames. Familiar names appear first. This is not a population ranking or the complete historical text. Mandarin Katakana is approximate.

Select a name to see all its readings.

Chinese surnameJapanese glyphJapanese on-readingMandarin KatakanaPinyin
王王オウワンWáng
李李リリーLǐ
张張チョウチャンZhāng
刘劉リュウリウLiú
陈陳チンチェンChén
杨楊ヨウヤンYáng
黄黄コウフアンHuáng
赵趙チョウチャオZhào
吴呉ゴウーWú
周周シュウチョウZhōu
徐徐ジョシューXú
孙孫ソンスンSūn
胡胡コフーHú
朱朱シュチューZhū
高高コウガオGāo
林林リンリンLín
何何カヘHé
郭郭カクグオGuō
罗羅ラルオLuó
郑鄭テイチェンZhèng
欧阳欧陽オウヨウオウヤンŌuyáng
司马司馬シバスーマSīmǎ
钱銭センチエンQián
冯馮フウフェンFéng
褚褚チョチューChǔ
卫衛エイウェイWèi
蒋蒋ショウジアンJiǎng
沈沈シンシェンShěn
韩韓カンハンHán
秦秦シンチンQín
尤尤ユウヨウYóu
许許キョシューXǔ
吕呂ロリューLǚ
施施シシーShī
孔孔コウコンKǒng
曹曹ソウツァオCáo
严厳ゲンイエンYán
华華カフアHuà
金金キンジンJīn
魏魏ギウェイWèi
陶陶トウタオTáo
姜姜キョウジアンJiāng
戚戚セキチーQī
谢謝シャシエXiè
邹鄒スウツォウZōu
喻喩ユユーYù
柏柏ハクバイBǎi
水水スイシュイShuǐ
窦竇トウドウDòu
章章ショウチャンZhāng
云雲ウンユンYún
苏蘇ソスーSū
潘潘ハンパンPān
葛葛カツゲGě
奚奚ケイシーXī
范范ハンファンFàn
彭彭ホウペンPéng
郎郎ロウランLáng
鲁魯ロルーLǔ
韦韋イウェイWéi
昌昌ショウチャンChāng
马馬バマMǎ
苗苗ビョウミャオMiáo
凤鳳ホウフェンFèng
花花カフアHuā
方方ホウファンFāng
俞兪ユユーYú
任任ニンレンRén
袁袁エンユエンYuán
柳柳リュウリウLiǔ
酆酆フウフェンFēng
鲍鮑ホウバオBào
史史シシーShǐ
唐唐トウタンTáng
费費ヒフェイFèi
廉廉レンリエンLián
岑岑シンツェンCén
薛薛セツシュエXuē
雷雷ライレイLéi
贺賀ガヘHè
倪倪ゲイニーNí
汤湯トウタンTāng
滕滕トウテンTéng
殷殷インインYīn
毕畢ヒツビーBì
郝郝カクハオHǎo
邬鄔オウーWū
安安アンアンĀn
常常ジョウチャンCháng
乐楽ガクユエYuè
于于ウユーYú
时時ジシーShí
傅傅フフーFù
皮皮ヒピーPí
卞卞ベンビエンBiàn
齐斉セイチーQí
康康コウカンKāng
伍伍ゴウーWǔ
余余ヨユーYú
元元ゲンユエンYuán
卜卜ボクブーBǔ
顾顧コグーGù
孟孟モウメンMèng
平平ヘイピンPíng
和和ワヘHé
穆穆ボクムーMù
萧蕭ショウシャオXiāo
尹尹インインYǐn
From NameFerry

Here for one surname? Go straight to the chart. There’s a separate guide linked below if your surname has two characters.

Why can Zhang be both チョウ and チャン?

The chart separates Japanese on-readings from Mandarin-based Katakana: 王 is オウ or ワン, and 陈 is チン or チェン. These columns describe different pronunciations, not alternative spellings of one sound.

NameFerry surname lookup showing the compound surname Ouyang and its readings

Look up the surname separately in NameFerry to compare its Japanese form and reading. Two-character surnames can be entered together.

Open this toolView full-size image

How to use the chart

Glyph conversion

Simplified surnames such as 张, 刘, 陈 and 杨 map to 張, 劉, 陳 and 楊 in common Japanese glyph forms.

Chinese and Japanese surnames

For the Chinese surname 林, the chart gives リン. The Japanese surname 林 is also commonly read はやし; that is a different naming context.

Continue exploring Chinese name readings

How do you read a Chinese name in Japanese?

Learn how the two reading systems work across a complete Chinese name.

How is the Chinese surname Zhang read in Japanese?

Compare Zhang in Japanese kanji, Katakana, Hiragana, Romaji and Mandarin pronunciation.

How are Chinese compound surnames read in Japanese?

Compare Japanese glyphs, on-readings and Mandarin Katakana for compound Chinese surnames.

Does the family name or given name come first?

Match family and given names with common Japanese and English field labels.

Guides

Look up the complete name

Enter a Simplified or Traditional name to review each character, alternative readings, Mandarin Katakana and Pinyin.

Convert the full name