Philip in Chinese
Origin: Greek
Meaning: lover of horses
The standard Chinese transliteration of Philip, pronounced Fēi Lì Pǔ. The characters are chosen for sound: 菲 (fēi, "fragrant, luxuriant"), 利 (lì, "benefit, sharp"), 普 (pǔ, "universal, general"). Native speakers will immediately recognize it as the name Philip.
Character Breakdown
Note: Reads as the name "Philip" to native speakers; the characters are chosen for sound, so don't expect a poetic meaning. 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 Philip ("lover of horses"), expressing love, joy and blessings: 欣 (xīn, "joyful, glad") + 然 (rán, "so, thus; natural").
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. Use a proper calligraphy font and have a native speaker check the final stencil (stroke order and orientation).
Opens with 菲 (fēi, "fragrant, luxuriant"), which echoes the first sound of Philip (Fēi), and adds 乐 (lè, "joy, happiness; music") 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 菲樂 differs from simplified 菲乐; 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).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you write Philip in Chinese?
The most common way is 菲利普 (traditional: 菲利普), pronounced Fēi Lì Pǔ. This is the standard phonetic transliteration you would see in Chinese media and translations.
What does 菲利普 mean?
菲利普 is a sound-based transliteration, so as a whole it simply means "Philip". Individually: 菲 (fēi) = fragrant, luxuriant; 利 (lì) = benefit, sharp; 普 (pǔ) = universal, general. If you want real meaning, try 欣然 (Xīn Rán), inspired by the meaning of Philip: "lover of horses".
Which Chinese name for Philip is best for a tattoo?
Choose 菲利普 if you want people to recognize your name, 欣然 if you prefer meaning over sound, or 菲乐 for a natural-sounding Chinese name that still echoes Philip. Whatever you pick, use a calligraphy font and ask a native speaker to check the final design.