Pearl in Chinese / Japanese...

パール is the name Pearl in Japanese.

Note: Because this title is entirely Japanese Katakana, it should be written by a Japanese calligrapher.

珍珠 is the name Pearl in Chinese (Mandarin).

This means bright pearl or jewel of great value.

明珠 is a female given name Mingzhu in Chinese or Meishu in Japanese.

掌上明珠 is a Chinese proverb that literally means “a pearl in the palm.”

Figuratively, this is used to describe, or as a title for, a beloved person. This can especially apply to a daughter.

In Chinese, 珍寶 means treasure, something you value highly, or something very precious to you.

In Japanese, 珍寶 has a meaning like “rare treasure.”

珍 can mean a precious thing or treasure. 寶 can mean a jewel or gem, a treasure, or simply precious. Together these two characters reinforce each other into a word that clearly means treasure.

寶 means precious thing or treasure.

This can also mean precious, a gem, a pearl, or anything valuable.

The version of this character shown to the left is the traditional Chinese and ancient/traditional Japanese version. In modern Japan and China, this character has been simplified. This simplified version is shown to the right. If you want this modern Japanese/simplified version, just click the Kanji on the right, instead of the button above. If your audience is Chinese or Korean, I recommend the ancient/traditional form. Only consider the simplified form if your audience is younger Japanese people.

周 is the name Chau in Chinese (Mandarin).

The last name Chau (or Châu) has diverse origins, most prominently as a Vietnamese surname meaning "pearl," linking to Chinese roots, and also as various anglicized forms of Chinese names like Zhou (周), meaning dynasty/circle, or Zhu (朱), meaning vermilion.

If you need 朱 instead of 周, please let me know when ordering.

虎 is the character for tiger in Chinese, old Korean Hanja, and Japanese Kanji.

Since you already know what a tiger is, here's some trivia: If you look at the Japanese pronunciation, you might remember a movie called “Tora Tora Tora” which was the code word used to initiate the attack on Pearl Harbor. It simply means “Tiger Tiger Tiger.”

In Chinese culture, the tiger is considered to be the king of all animals (in much the way we see the lion in western culture).

From the Chinese Zodiac, if you were born in the year of the tiger, you . . .

Have a strong personality.
Are full of self-confidence.
Love adventure
Don't like to obey others.

See also our Chinese Zodiac or Tiger Calligraphy pages.