A surname of scholars, from the ancient state of Cai in today's Henan.
What the character means
Vitality and wisdom
Why it scores this way
Easy to say76
Mostly easy. The only friction is c, which English speakers usually turn into something close.
Recognised in China70
Common enough that most Chinese speakers recognise it (roughly the top 100).
Easy to write45
15 strokes — more than most; it will take real practice to write smoothly.
People who carried this name
Cai Yuanpei — Educator (1868–1940), president of Peking University, father of modern Chinese higher education.
Cai Lun — Ancient Chinese inventor and official of the Eastern Han Dynasty, credited with improving papermaking technology that revolutionized communication worldwide.
Cai Wenji — Renowned poet and musician of the Eastern Han and Three Kingdoms period, known for her literary works and tragic life story, including the famous 'Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute'.