The Apothecary Diaries Character Name Meanings Explained by a Japanese Fan

What Does Maomao Name Mean?

Name: Maomao（猫猫）
Reading: Ma-o-ma-o. She has no family name in the story.

The series is set in a China-like empire, so most names use Chinese-style readings, not Japanese ones. That is a big part of the fun for Japanese readers, too.

The Kanji One by One

• Mao（猫）= “cat,” read the Chinese way
• Mao（猫）= “cat” again

So her name is simply “Cat Cat.” In Chinese, doubling a sound like this makes a name feel cute and casual, a bit like “Kitty.”

Where the Name Maomao Comes From

The reading Maomao comes from mao, the Chinese word for cat. As far as I could find, author Natsu Hyuga（日向夏）has not explained in an interview why she chose it.

But the cat image is everywhere. Maomao is curious, independent, and only cares about what interests her, mainly poisons and medicine. When she finds a rare herb, her eyes light up like a cat spotting prey.

What the Name Means in the Story

Maomao grew up in the red-light district, raised by Luomen, a kind apothecary. She is kidnapped, sold to the palace as a maid, and becomes a food taster thanks to her poison knowledge.

Spoiler warning: the next part mentions the truth about her parents.

Maomao’s real father turns out to be the strategist Lakan. Fans point out that the novels hint he named her after a plant nicknamed “cat’s paw”: katabami（片喰）, or woodsorrel. One chapter of the second novel is even titled “The Touch-me-not and the Woodsorrel”（鳳仙花と片喰）. I have not confirmed the naming in the original text myself, so take it as a fan reading.

How It Feels to Japanese Ears

This part is my take. Without the furigana reading guide, I think many Japanese people would read 猫猫 as neko neko, the Japanese word for cat twice. It looks super cute, almost like a pet’s name.

Reading it “Maomao” instead makes it feel foreign and a little mysterious.

It is a cute name, but Maomao herself is dry, sharp, and a little cold. I love that gap.

Is Maomao a Real Name in Japan?

No. As far as I could find, 猫猫 is not used as a real name in Japan. To me, it sounds like a nickname for a cat, not a person.

What Does Jinshi Name Mean?

Name: Jinshi（壬氏）
Reading: Ji-n-shi.

The Kanji One by One

• Jin（壬）= the ninth of the ten “heavenly stems,” an old Chinese counting system. In Japanese it is also called mizunoe（壬）= “the elder brother of water”
• Shi（氏）= “clan” or “family,” also used like “Mr.” after a name

So Jinshi does not really mean anything as a phrase. It sounds more like a code name, something like “Mr. Nine” or “Mr. Water.” And that is kind of the point.

Where the Name Jinshi Comes From

As far as I could find, author Natsu Hyuga has not explained why she chose these exact kanji. The ten heavenly stems are still used in calendars and in names of historical events, so they give a classic, Chinese-style feel.

What the Name Means in the Story

Jinshi is a breathtakingly beautiful eunuch who runs the inner palace. Everyone falls for him, except Maomao, who looks at him like a bug. That only makes him more interested in her.

Spoiler warning: the next part mentions who Jinshi really is.

Jinshi is not his real name. He is actually Ka Zuigetsu（華瑞月）, the Emperor’s younger brother, hiding his identity in the palace. His real name has 華 = “splendor,” 瑞 = “good omen,” and 月 = “moon,” a far more royal set of kanji.

So the plain, code-like “Jinshi” makes perfect sense. It is a mask, just like his eunuch role.

How It Feels to Japanese Ears

This part is my take. 壬 is a kanji most of us rarely use in daily life. So 壬氏 looks mysterious and a little dignified, like a name from an old history book.

The sound “Jinshi” is short and smooth, too. It suits an elegant man who smiles sweetly but always seems to be hiding something.

Is Jinshi a Real Name in Japan?

No. As far as I could find, 壬氏 is not used as a real name in Japan. 壬 does appear in some place names and surnames, like Mibu（壬生）, but as a given name it feels very rare to me.

Source: Weblio

What Does Gaoshun Name Mean?

Name: Gaoshun（高順）
Reading: Ga-o-shu-n, a Chinese-style reading. In Japanese, the same kanji would normally be read Kojun.

The Kanji One by One

• Gao（高）= “high” or “noble”
• Shun（順）= “in order,” “obedient,” or “going smoothly”

Read together, it is something like “high-ranking and well-ordered.” For a serious, reliable right-hand man, that is about as fitting as it gets.

Where the Name Gaoshun Comes From

Here is a fun fact. Gao Shun（高順）is also the name of a real general from China’s Three Kingdoms era. He served the famous warrior Lu Bu（呂布）and was known as his most capable commander, staying with him to the very end.

As far as I could find, author Natsu Hyuga has not said that she named him after this general. So the link is just my own reading, but for fans of Three Kingdoms stories, the name may ring a bell.

What the Name Means in the Story

Gaoshun is Jinshi’s loyal attendant and bodyguard. He is calm, practical, and always cleaning up after Jinshi’s mood swings, which earns him a lot of sympathy from fans.

順 fits him perfectly. He keeps everything running smoothly behind the scenes, usually with a very tired, patient face.

How It Feels to Japanese Ears

This part is my take. 高順 looks very neat and serious. Both kanji are ones we use every day, so it feels solid and trustworthy rather than flashy.

The Chinese-style sound “Gaoshun” adds a strong, slightly heavy feel. It suits a dependable older man who has seen a lot.

Is Gaoshun a Real Name in Japan?

Not as a Japanese name. As far as I could find, 高順 is not used as a given name in Japan. To me, it sounds like a name from Chinese history, which makes sense given the real general.

Source: Wikipedia

What Does Lakan Name Mean?

Name: Lakan（羅漢）, full name Kan Lakan（漢羅漢）
Reading: La-ka-n. In Japanese, it is pronounced Ra-ka-n.

The Kanji One by One

• Ra（羅）= “thin silk” or “net,” often used just for its sound
• Kan（漢）= “Han,” the old name for China, or “man”

Together, rakan（羅漢）is a real Japanese word. It is short for arakan（阿羅漢）, from the Sanskrit “arhat,” meaning a Buddhist saint who has reached the highest enlightenment.

Where the Name Lakan Comes From

As far as I could find, author Natsu Hyuga has not explained why she chose this name. But unlike most names in the series, 羅漢 is an actual Japanese word, especially familiar around Buddhist temples.

Japan has temples with “500 rakan,” rows of stone statues of Buddhist saints. Each one has a different face, some calm, some laughing, some a little weird.

What the Name Means in the Story

Lakan is the army’s chief strategist, often called the “eccentric strategist.” He is a genius at Go and shogi, wears a monocle, and says he cannot recognize people’s faces. To him, people look like Go stones.

Spoiler warning: the next part mentions his connection to Maomao.

Lakan is Maomao’s real father. Maomao cannot stand him, but he adores her. A man named after an enlightened saint who acts like a total weirdo around his daughter is a pretty funny gap.

How It Feels to Japanese Ears

This part is my take. Honestly, I just think Rakan sounds cool and strong. The sharp “ra” and “kan” sounds give it a powerful, confident feel, perfect for a top military strategist.

There is also rakanka（羅漢果）, a super sweet fruit used as a sugar substitute in Japan. So for some of us, the name might even sound a bit sweet.

Is Lakan a Real Name in Japan?

No. As far as I could find, 羅漢 is not used as a real name in Japan. It is the word for a Buddhist saint, so naming a child that would feel very unusual to me.

Sources: Kotobank, Weblio

What Does Consort Gyokuyou Name Mean?

Name: Gyokuyou（玉葉）, called Gyokuyou-hi（玉葉妃）
Reading: Gyo-ku-yo-u. This one uses a Japanese-style reading, not a Chinese one.

The Kanji One by One

• Gyoku（玉）= “jade” or “jewel”
• Yo（葉）= “leaf”
• Hi（妃）= “consort,” a title for the emperor’s wives, not part of her name

So her name means “jade leaf.” It sounds precious, green, and full of life.

Where the Name Gyokuyou Comes From

As far as I could find, author Natsu Hyuga has not explained why she chose this name. But the 玉 runs in her family. Her father is Gyokuen（玉袁）, a powerful official from the western capital.

In this world, the women of the emperor’s inner palace are called by their name plus 妃, a bit like “Consort Gyokuyou” in English.

What the Name Means in the Story

Gyokuyou is the emperor’s favorite consort and one of the four top-ranked consorts. She lives in the Jade Pavilion（翡翠宮）, and she has red hair and jade-green eyes from her foreign mother.

So “jade” shows up in her name, her home, and even her eyes. To me, that feels like more than a coincidence, though the link is my own reading. She is also the one who hires Maomao as her food taster after Maomao saves her baby daughter.

How It Feels to Japanese Ears

This part is my take. Gyokuyou sounds very formal and elegant, like someone from a royal court. The kanji 玉 makes it feel precious, like a treasure.

At the same time, 葉 = “leaf” adds a soft, natural feeling. That fits her well, since she is bright and kind, but also sharp and hard to fool.

Is Gyokuyou a Real Name in Japan?

Not as it is. As far as I could find, 玉葉 read Gyokuyou is not a real name in Japan. 葉 shows up in many girls’ names, but 玉 feels rare in modern names to me. To me, the full name sounds like a royal from a historical drama.

What Does Consort Lihua Name Mean?

Name: Lihua（梨花）, called Lihua-hi（梨花妃）
Reading: Li-hu-a, a Chinese-style reading. In Japanese, the same kanji would be read Rika.

The Kanji One by One

• Li（梨）= “pear”
• Hua（花）= “flower”
• Hi（妃）= “consort,” a title, not part of her name

So her name means “pear blossom.” Pear trees bloom with pure white flowers in spring.

Where the Name Lihua Comes From

As far as I could find, author Natsu Hyuga has not explained this name. But pear blossoms have a famous image in Chinese poetry.

In the classic poem “The Song of Everlasting Sorrow”（長恨歌）, the beautiful consort Yang Guifei’s tearful face is compared to a branch of pear blossoms in spring rain（梨花一枝春帯雨）. That line is often quoted to describe a beautiful woman in tears.

What the Name Means in the Story

Lihua is one of the four top-ranked consorts, proud and graceful. Early in the story, she loses her baby son, the crown prince, because of poisonous lead in her face powder. She falls ill from it, too, until Maomao nurses her back to health.

A proud beauty who cries over a loss she cannot undo. To me, that matches the pear blossom in the rain almost too well, though this link is my own reading.

How It Feels to Japanese Ears

This part is my take. I think many Japanese people would read 梨花 as Rika, a real and familiar girls’ name. So the kanji themselves feel very normal and pretty to us.

Reading it “Lihua” instead suddenly makes it feel foreign and elegant. It is fun to see a name you know turn into a palace consort’s name.

Is Lihua a Real Name in Japan?

Yes, in a way. 梨花 read Rika is a real Japanese girls’ name. I could not confirm its ranking this time, but it does not sound unusual to me. The reading Lihua, though, is not used in Japan.

Source: 長恨歌 (full text)

What Does Lishu Name Mean?

Name: Consort Lishu（里樹妃）
Reading: Li-shu, a Chinese-style reading. In Japanese, the same kanji would be read something like Riju.

The Kanji One by One

• Li（里）= “village” or “hometown”
• Shu（樹）= “tree”

Put together, it is something like “the village tree.” It feels plain and gentle, not flashy at all.

Where the Name Lishu Comes From

As far as I could find, author Natsu Hyuga has not explained this name. So the rest is about the kanji and my own reading.

The other top consorts have names with jade or pear blossoms. Lishu gets a village and a tree. To me, that simple feel matches the youngest and least worldly of the four.

What the Name Means in the Story

Lishu is the youngest of the four top consorts, only 14 when the story starts. She holds the title Virtuous Consort（徳妃）and lives in the Diamond Pavilion（金剛宮）.

She is shy, naive, and honestly really unlucky. Her own maids look down on her, and trouble keeps finding her. Maomao ends up quietly watching over her.

A young tree is still growing and easy to bend in the wind. I think that image fits her surprisingly well, though this is just my reading.

How It Feels to Japanese Ears

This part is my take. Both kanji are very common in Japanese girls’ names. 里 shows up in names like Satomi（里美）, and 樹 in names like Itsuki（樹）.

So the kanji themselves feel familiar and soft. But the reading “Lishu” sounds clearly Chinese, which keeps her in the palace world.

Is Lishu a Real Name in Japan?

As 里樹, it is rare, and I could not confirm any data on it. But each kanji is used a lot in real Japanese names, so it does not feel strange to read.

What Does Ah-Duo Name Mean?

Name: Consort Ah-Duo（阿多妃）
Reading: A-duo, a Chinese-style reading. In Japanese, the same kanji would be read Ata.

The Kanji One by One

• A（阿）= a friendly prefix often put before names in Chinese
• Duo（多）= “many” or “plenty”

In Chinese, 阿 works a bit like a casual “hey” in front of a name. So her name has a close, familiar feel, almost like a childhood nickname.

Where the Name Ah-Duo Comes From

As far as I could find, author Natsu Hyuga has not explained this name. So what follows is my own reading.

Ah-Duo is the Emperor’s childhood friend. They were even raised by the same wet nurse. A nickname-like name fits someone who has known him since they were kids.

What the Name Means in the Story

Ah-Duo is the oldest of the four top consorts. She holds the title Pure Consort（淑妃）and lives in the Garnet Pavilion（柘榴宮）.

She is cool, boyish, and looks great in men’s clothes. She was the Emperor’s first consort, and for years his only one.

Spoiler warning: the next part touches on a big mystery about her son.

Her baby son was said to have died young. But one night she tells Maomao her son “left her hands,” not that he died. That small choice of words starts one of the biggest mysteries in the series.

How It Feels to Japanese Ears

This part is my take. Compared to the other consorts, “Ah-Duo” sounds short, simple, and a little strong. It does not sound sweet or flowery at all.

I think that suits her. She is the consort who feels more like a handsome knight than a delicate princess.

Is Ah-Duo a Real Name in Japan?

No. I could not confirm any use of 阿多 as a given name in Japan. The 阿 prefix is a Chinese naming style, so it sounds clearly Chinese to Japanese readers.

What Does Luomen Name Mean?

Name: Luomen（羅門）, full name Kan Luomen（漢羅門）
Reading: Luo-me-n, a Chinese-style reading. In Japanese, the same kanji would be read Ramon.

The Kanji One by One

• Luo（羅）= “thin silk” or “net”
• Men（門）= “gate”

Read literally, it is something like “the silk gate.” It sounds calm and a little old-fashioned, which suits a gentle old doctor.

Where the Name Luomen Comes From

Here is a fun detail. Luomen belongs to the powerful Kan（漢）family. Look at the names: Lakan（羅漢）, Luomen（羅門）, and Lakan’s adopted son Lahan（羅半）all share the kanji 羅.

So 羅 works like a family mark in their names. As far as I could find, though, author Natsu Hyuga has not explained why she picked 門 for him.

What the Name Means in the Story

Luomen is Maomao’s adoptive father and teacher, a kind apothecary in the red-light district. Maomao calls him oyaji（おやじ）= “old man” or “pops,” and she clearly loves him.

Spoiler warning: the next part mentions his family ties and past.

He is actually Lakan’s uncle, which makes him Maomao’s great-uncle. Long ago, he was a palace physician, but he was punished and driven out after a tragedy involving a royal baby.

How It Feels to Japanese Ears

This part is my take. In Japanese, 羅門 reminds me of baramon（婆羅門）, the Japanese word for the Brahmin priests of India. Just add one kanji in front. That gives the name a quiet, wise, almost religious feel.

To be fair, baramon is not an everyday word. I think many Japanese people would not notice this link at all. To most, 羅門 probably just sounds like an old, unusual name.

Interestingly, his nephew’s name 羅漢 is also a religious word. Whether Hyuga meant it or not, the La family names sound wise and spiritual to me.

Is Luomen a Real Name in Japan?

No. As far as I could find, 羅門 is not used as a real name in Japan. To me, it sounds like a name from a Chinese historical drama.

What Does Xiaolan Name Mean?

Name: Xiaolan（小蘭）
Reading: Shao-ran, a Chinese-style reading. In Japanese, the same kanji would usually be read Shoran or Koran.

The Kanji One by One

• Xiao（小）= “small” or “little”
• Lan（蘭）= “orchid”

Put together, it means “little orchid.” In Chinese, 小 is also often added to a name as a friendly nickname, a bit like saying “little Lan.”

Where the Name Xiaolan Comes From

As far as I could find, author Natsu Hyuga has not explained where this name came from. So I can only tell you what the kanji say.

Compared to the consorts, whose names use fancy kanji like jade or pear blossom, Xiaolan’s name is simple and humble. To me, that fits a cheerful servant girl.

What the Name Means in the Story

Xiaolan is a palace maid and one of Maomao’s very few friends. She is bright, chatty, and loves sweets and gossip.

Here is a detail I love. Xiaolan comes from a poor village and never learned to read. She did not even know how to write her own name until Maomao taught her the kanji 小蘭.

So her name was, in a way, a small gift from Maomao. Xiaolan is popular enough to get her own spin-off manga, Shaoran Kaisouroku（小蘭回想録）= “Xiaolan’s Memoirs.”

How It Feels to Japanese Ears

This part is my take. 蘭 is a kanji many Japanese people know from names. For example, Ran Mouri（毛利蘭）from Detective Conan uses it.

Adding 小 makes it feel small and cute. “Shaoran” itself sounds light and friendly, like someone you would want to chat with.

Is Xiaolan a Real Name in Japan?

Not really. I could not confirm any data on 小蘭 as a Japanese given name, and it sounds Chinese to me. But 蘭 alone, read Ran, is a real girl’s name in Japan.