Standard spelling
约翰
Yuē hàn
The standard Chinese spelling of John.
- 约
- promise, agreement; a common name sound
- 翰
- writing brush; literary talent
Best when you want Chinese readers to see John straight away.
John in Chinese
In Chinese, John is written 约翰 (Yuē hàn), the standard spelling used in Chinese books, films and news. If you would like a name with meaning, try 俊航 (Jùn háng): a Chinese-style name meaning talented and far-sailing.
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约翰
Yuē hàn
John
Choose by sound or by meaning.
There is no single official spelling of an English name in Chinese. Here is what each option says, character by character.
Name with meaning
俊航
Jùn háng
A Chinese-style name meaning talented and far-sailing.
- 俊
- talented, handsome
- 航
- to sail, voyage
Close to the “Jon” sound of John, and natural to a Chinese reader.
Single character
俊
Jùn
A single character meaning talent.
- 俊
- talented, handsome
Clean and minimal; reads well at any size.
Where John comes from.
John comes from the Hebrew Yochanan, meaning “God is gracious”. It is the name of John the Baptist and John the Apostle.
Famous Johns in Chinese
- John Lennonmusician, The Beatles约翰·列侬
About John in Chinese
What does the name John mean?
John comes from the Hebrew Yochanan, meaning “God is gracious”. It is the name of John the Baptist and John the Apostle.
How do you say John in Chinese?
John is written 约翰 and pronounced Yuē hàn. This is the standard spelling Chinese speakers use for the name. Best when you want Chinese readers to see John straight away.
What does 俊航 mean?
俊航 (Jùn háng) is a Chinese-style name for John: a Chinese-style name meaning talented and far-sailing. 俊 means “talented, handsome”, 航 means “to sail, voyage”.
Which version of John is best for a tattoo?
约翰 is how Chinese speakers will read your name. 俊航 is shorter and every character carries a meaning, which many people prefer for body art. Write it in a readable style such as Kaishu, and show it to a fluent reader before your appointment.