Name translation
Emma in Chinese
爱玛
Ài mǎ
Ài is fourth tone (sharp and falling) and mǎ is third tone (falling, then rising) — roughly "eye mah". The variant 埃玛 is pronounced Āi mǎ, with a level first tone on the first syllable.
Sources: CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0)
How this translation works
爱玛 is a phonetic transliteration of Emma, and it happens to be a graceful one: 爱 means "love", so the written form looks warm even though the characters were chosen for their sounds, ài and mǎ, not their meanings. As with most foreign names, the transliteration does not explain Emma's etymology (the name comes from a Germanic word meaning "whole" or "universal").
Emma has more than one written form in Chinese. This site's dictionary (CC-CEDICT) records 爱玛, while Wikidata records 埃玛, pronounced Āi mǎ with a level first tone. Mainland media also widely use 艾玛 — for example for the actress Emma Watson — so you may meet any of the three. They all represent the same name; the choice between them is a matter of source and region, not of meaning.
埃玛 Āi mǎ
Recorded by Wikidata as the Chinese form of Emma. The first syllable shifts to a level first tone, Āi.
艾玛 Ài mǎ
Widely used in mainland Chinese media — for instance for Emma Watson — though it is not in this site's dictionary, so the translator on the homepage returns 爱玛.
Related names
Emma is related to Em and Emmy. Em and Emmy are common nicknames for Emma. The forms on this page translate Emma itself; nicknames are usually left untranslated or transliterated separately when they appear on their own.
When to use this form
These forms translate the name of a real person named Emma — in Chinese text, subtitles or introductions. If instead you want to create a new Chinese name for yourself, that is a different task: use the Chinese name generator, which suggests names chosen for their meaning and feel.
Translate another name on the homepage translator, or create a new personal Chinese name.
Emma in Chinese: FAQ
How do you write Emma in Chinese?
Emma is most often written 爱玛 (Ài mǎ). You will also see 埃玛 (Āi mǎ) and 艾玛 (Ài mǎ) — all three transliterate the same name, and the choice depends on the source and region.
Should I use 爱玛, 埃玛 or 艾玛 for Emma?
All three are in real use. 爱玛 is the form in the CC-CEDICT dictionary this site uses, 埃玛 is the form Wikidata records, and 艾玛 is common in mainland media (for example for Emma Watson). For an everyday translation, 爱玛 is a safe default; when referring to a specific public figure, follow the form that person's Chinese coverage uses.
What does 爱玛 mean?
Strictly, nothing — it is a phonetic transliteration of Emma. The characters are a happy accident, though: 爱 means "love", so 爱玛 reads pleasantly, even though the characters were chosen for their sounds rather than their meanings.
How do you pronounce 爱玛?
Ài mǎ — fourth tone then third tone, roughly "eye mah". The first syllable falls sharply; the second dips and rises. Use the hear-it button on this page to listen.