Tsai

Tsai is a surname of Chinese origin. It is a romanization of the surname 蔡. In standard Mandarin, the pinyin form is Cai, but Tsai remains widely used in Taiwan and among overseas Chinese communities, reflecting historical romanizations and regional pronunciations. The surname 蔡 is among the common Chinese surnames, with a strong presence in Taiwan, coastal Fujian, and in diasporic communities across North America, Southeast Asia, and elsewhere. The form Tsai is especially associated with Taiwan and with Hokkien-speaking communities, though the name is found in many Chinese-speaking regions.

Notable individuals with the surname include Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), president of Taiwan since 2016, and Tsai Ming-liang (蔡明亮), a renowned filmmaker. The name appears across politics, academia, arts, and business, reflecting its broad geographic distribution. In formal contexts, the pinyin Cai may be used; in Taiwan and in international settings, Tsai is common.

See also Cai (surname); 蔡.