Ying

Ying is a transliteration used in the pinyin system for several Chinese given names and surnames, and it also appears in place names and historical terms. Because many Chinese characters share the same pronunciation, the meaning of Ying depends on the character chosen.

Common characters associated with the name Ying include 英 (hero; outstanding), 颖 (clever; bright), 影 (shadow), 应 (to respond; should), and 营 (camp; to manage). Each character carries its own meaning, so the intent of a name or term named Ying varies accordingly. In modern usage, the same syllable can be part of many different given names or surnames.

Historically, Ying (嬴) was the surname of the ruling clan of the ancient state of Qin. The first emperor of Qin bore the personal name Ying Zheng (嬴政). Today, the surname Ying remains rare but is noted in historical records and literature.

In contemporary contexts, Ying is a common element in Chinese given names for both sexes, particularly in female names where it may convey notions of brightness or excellence when characters such as 英 or 颖 are used. As a surname, it is less common but attested in historical texts. In toponyms, Ying appears as part of longer place names, such as Yingkou (营口), a city in Liaoning Province, illustrating how the syllable travels across names and regions.