Zhai
Zhai is a transliteration from Mandarin pinyin that can render several Chinese names and terms in English text. In surname use, Zhai most commonly corresponds to the character 翟 (pinyin zhái), a relatively uncommon surname. When tone marks are omitted in English texts, zhái is written as Zhai. Beyond surnames, Zhai may reflect the pronunciation of other characters such as 斋 (pinyin zhāi), meaning vegetarian meals or a fasting observance; and in toponyms the same pinyin may derive from zhāi or zhài, depending on the tone. Because pinyin omits tones, the same spelling can represent multiple characters with different meanings.
Geographically and administratively, Zhai appears in the names of villages, towns, and districts across China, typically
Notable individuals with the surname Zhai include Zhai Zhigang (翟志刚), a Chinese aerospace engineer and astronaut who