Isaac in Chinese
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: he will laugh
The standard Chinese transliteration of Isaac, pronounced Ài Sà Kè. The characters are chosen for sound: 艾 (ài, "mugwort; beautiful (classical)"), 萨 (sà, "Bodhisattva (phonetic 'sa')"), 克 (kè, "to overcome; gram"). Native speakers will immediately recognize it as the name Isaac.
Character Breakdown
Note: Reads as the name "Isaac" to native speakers; the characters are chosen for sound, so don't expect a poetic meaning. Traditional form 艾薩克 differs from simplified 艾萨克; 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 Isaac ("he will laugh"), expressing love, joy and blessings: 嘉 (jiā, "excellent, praiseworthy") + 乐 (lè, "joy, happiness; music").
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 嘉樂 differs from simplified 嘉乐; 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 艾 (ài, "mugwort; beautiful (classical)"), which echoes the first sound of Isaac (Ài), and adds 赐 (cì, "to bestow; gift") 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 艾賜 differs from simplified 艾赐; 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 Isaac in Chinese?
The most common way is 艾萨克 (traditional: 艾薩克), pronounced Ài Sà Kè. This is the standard phonetic transliteration you would see in Chinese media and translations.
What does 艾萨克 mean?
艾萨克 is a sound-based transliteration, so as a whole it simply means "Isaac". Individually: 艾 (ài) = mugwort; beautiful (classical); 萨 (sà) = Bodhisattva (phonetic 'sa'); 克 (kè) = to overcome; gram. If you want real meaning, try 嘉乐 (Jiā Lè), inspired by the meaning of Isaac: "he will laugh".
Which Chinese name for Isaac is best for a tattoo?
Choose 艾萨克 if you want people to recognize your name, 嘉乐 if you prefer meaning over sound, or 艾赐 for a natural-sounding Chinese name that still echoes Isaac. Whatever you pick, use a calligraphy font and ask a native speaker to check the final design.