Name translation
Jennifer in Chinese
Jennifer is written 詹妮弗 in Chinese, pronounced Zhān nī fú. This is the standard phonetic transliteration used in Chinese media, as in 詹妮弗·洛佩兹 (Jennifer Lopez). The characters carry the sound of the English name, not its Cornish origin, usually explained as "white" or "fair".
詹妮弗
Zhān nī fú
Common form in Chinese media
Also written: 珍妮弗
Zhān is first tone (high and level), nī is first tone and fú is second tone (rising). A rough English approximation is "jahn nee foo", where zh sounds like the j in "jam".
Sources: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
How this translation works
詹妮弗 is a phonetic transliteration: 詹, 妮 and 弗 were chosen for their sounds, zhān, nī and fú, not for their meanings. Literally 詹 is a surname, 妮 means "girl" and 弗 is a classical negative — together they say nothing about Jennifer, which is the Cornish form of Guinevere, usually explained as "white" or "fair".
This is the standard media form for famous people: Jennifer Lopez is 詹妮弗·洛佩兹 and Jennifer Aniston is 詹妮弗·安妮斯顿. The Chinese Wikipedia article on Lopez uses 詹妮弗, and that page is the source recorded for this entry.
A second spelling, 珍妮弗, is also common, beginning with 珍 ("precious") and a level first tone Zhēn. It represents the same English name and the same sound; the difference is the source's character choice, not a difference in meaning.
珍妮弗 Zhēn nī fú
A second common spelling. The first character is 珍 and the first syllable is the level tone Zhēn, which sits side by side with 詹妮弗 in real usage.
Related names
Jennifer is related to Jen and Jenny. Jen is normally written 珍 (Zhēn) and Jenny as 珍妮 (Zhēn nī). These are nicknames with their own transliterations and are not interchangeable with the full form 詹妮弗.
When to use this form
詹妮弗 translates the name of a real person called Jennifer — in Chinese news, subtitles or introductions. If instead you want a new Chinese name chosen for its meaning, use the Chinese name generator.
Translate another name on the homepage translator, or create a new personal Chinese name.
Jennifer in Chinese: FAQ
How do you write Jennifer in Chinese?
Jennifer is written 詹妮弗 in Chinese, pronounced Zhān nī fú. This is the form used in Chinese media for public figures such as 詹妮弗·洛佩兹 (Jennifer Lopez).
Is Jennifer 詹妮弗 or 珍妮弗?
Both are in real use and sound the same. 詹妮弗 is the media form used here; 珍妮弗 starts with 珍 and the level tone Zhēn. The choice depends on the source, not on any difference in meaning.
What does 詹妮弗 mean?
Nothing literally — it is phonetic. 詹, 妮 and 弗 were chosen for their sounds. Jennifer is the Cornish form of Guinevere, usually explained as "white" or "fair", but that meaning is not carried by the Chinese characters.
How do you pronounce 詹妮弗?
Zhān nī fú — two level first tones followed by a rising second tone, roughly "jahn nee foo". The zh sounds like the j in "jam". Use the hear-it button on this page to listen.