Pearl's charming and beautiful younger sister who is impulsive and resourceful, with ambitions in the movie industry, contrasting Pearl's cautious nature.

An elderly businessman and family patriarch in Chinatown, known for his traditional values and harsh demeanor, who eventually softens towards his daughters-in-law.

Louie's eldest son and Pearl's husband, characterized by his dutiful and conscientious nature, who struggles with his family background and immigration status.

Sam's intellectually disabled younger brother, Vern, is known for his generosity and love for building models, who faces significant health challenges later in life.

Raised as Pearl's daughter but biologically May's, she grows up with a bold and venturesome spirit, and eventually becomes critical of her family's insular lifestyle.

Louie's wife, with a history of early trauma, known for her affable temperament and hard work in the family business, who displays kindness to her daughters-in-law.

A charismatic painter who plays a significant role in May's life and is known for his revolutionary ideologies and appreciable art work inspired by the Chin sisters.

The wealthy and traditional mother of Pearl and May, who faces adversity during the Japanese attack on Shanghai and reveals her devotion to her daughters.

The father of Pearl and May, known for his formerly prosperous rickshaw business and gambling issues, leading him to resort to drastic measures before disappearing.