Bella in Chinese
Origin: Italian
Meaning: beautiful
The standard Chinese transliteration of Bella, pronounced Bèi Lā. The characters are chosen for sound: 贝 (bèi, "shell, cowrie (treasure)"), 拉 (lā, "to pull (phonetic 'la')"). Native speakers will immediately recognize it as the name Bella.
Character Breakdown
Note: Reads as the name "Bella" to native speakers; the characters are chosen for sound, so don't expect a poetic meaning. Traditional form 貝拉 differs from simplified 贝拉; pick one script and keep it consistent. Use a proper calligraphy font and have a native speaker check the final stencil (stroke order and orientation).
A Chinese-style given name inspired by the meaning of Bella ("beautiful"), expressing love, joy and blessings: 乐 (lè, "joy, happiness; music") + 瑶 (yáo, "precious jade").
Character Breakdown
Note: A meaning-based Chinese given name; it will not sound like your English name, so pair it with an explanation if that matters to you. Traditional form 樂瑤 differs from simplified 乐瑶; pick one script and keep it consistent. Use a proper calligraphy font and have a native speaker check the final stencil (stroke order and orientation).
Opens with 贝 (bèi, "shell, cowrie (treasure)"), which echoes the first sound of Bella (Bèi), and adds 怡 (yí, "joyful, harmonious") for love, joy and blessings. It reads like a natural Chinese given name with a nod to your English one.
Character Breakdown
Note: Looks and sounds like a genuine Chinese given name while still echoing your name; a popular choice for tattoos. Traditional form 貝怡 differs from simplified 贝怡; pick one script and keep it consistent. Use a proper calligraphy font and have a native speaker check the final stencil (stroke order and orientation).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you write Bella in Chinese?
The most common way is 贝拉 (traditional: 貝拉), pronounced Bèi Lā. This is the standard phonetic transliteration you would see in Chinese media and translations.
What does 贝拉 mean?
贝拉 is a sound-based transliteration, so as a whole it simply means "Bella". Individually: 贝 (bèi) = shell, cowrie (treasure); 拉 (lā) = to pull (phonetic 'la'). If you want real meaning, try 乐瑶 (Lè Yáo), inspired by the meaning of Bella: "beautiful".
Which Chinese name for Bella is best for a tattoo?
Choose 贝拉 if you want people to recognize your name, 乐瑶 if you prefer meaning over sound, or 贝怡 for a natural-sounding Chinese name that still echoes Bella. Whatever you pick, use a calligraphy font and ask a native speaker to check the final design.