kanji (chinese) character tatoos-it's mainly for western eyes

[yoMAMA]

From the Japan Times:

http://www.japantimes.com/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?ek20031009mn.htm

I had a friend she had one that says 'sister'........but it could mean either younger or older :new_all_c

[mr. x]

well i coulda told u that

remember the english kid with the "at the end of the day this is an ugly boy" tattoo?

anyway yeah, the main appeal with it is its exoticness, i know using the "e word" when talking about asian issues is a cliche but yeah

[ChinaLama]

i'm sure we have a thread about it somewhere but i'm too lazy to dig it up. If someone else does, i'll be happy to do the merge. :)

[kasia]

OH! (i think maybe only cantonese ppl will understand this one)

the deejays on the chinese radio station here were saying that they say this one guy with the tatoo "wai laam hai" on his arm. they figured he must've requested the chinese equivalent of "bad boy". heheheh.

[SunWuKong]

i always think it's funny when i see the word for "strength" tattooed on someone. because that word only applies to physical strength, and not inner strength or mental strength. basically a lot of the time these tattoos look like bad subtitling in old kungfu movies.

[Fireblade]

I know someone who was stupid enough to put the chinese character for tiger on his chest because he wanted to be known as "Tony the Tiger". What a retard.

However, how do you guys feel about chinese characters that make up your chinese name? (or japanese/korean/etc) I feel these tatoo's are more legitimate for a reason to have these on your body, since it is your name, etc, etc.

[deez nuts]

However, how do you guys feel about chinese characters that make up your chinese name? (or japanese/korean/etc) I feel these tatoo's are more legitimate for a reason to have these on your body, since it is your name, etc, etc.

it's like how my momma would stitch my name on my underwear when i was a kid.

i'm not feeling it. why would i tat my chinese name on my body? in case i forget it?

[SunWuKong]

However, how do you guys feel about chinese characters that make up your chinese name? (or japanese/korean/etc) I feel these tatoo's are more legitimate for a reason to have these on your body, since it is your name, etc, etc.

i personally think it's really cheesy to tat your own name. i think it's pretty much an Asian American thing. to each his/her own. a friend of mine did that for her surname. but her surname happens to be the same last name as Confucius, so i guess it's not too bad. :p

[yoMAMA]

i remember marcus camby of the new york knicks or whatever team he is on now, if he is still in the nba, :licka: had two chinese characters on his arm, but which added together doesn't mean anything or make any sense.

:p

[Faithless]

From the article:
During our family's summer vacation in my hometown, Asheville, North Carolina (pop. 68,000), I resolved to find out why kanji-illiterate Caucasian Americans have Chinese characters indelibly inked on their bodies. I instructed my 8-year old son, who currently can write 300 Chinese characters, to keep his kanji radar out for potential subjects. Sean's first sighting took place at a minor-league baseball game. "Hey, Mom," he whispered, "Why does that man over there have the kanji for 'leg' tattooed on his arm?"

To Sean's horror, I walked right over to the man and inquired about the artwork on one of his iron-pumping biceps. His response? "Oh, so it means 'leg'? Well, I just saw the symbol somewhere and liked the look of it. I didn't think about the meaning."
OMFG! What a boob! I never realized that people could be so idiotic has to tatoo some Asian characters on their whatever and not even know what the hell it says.

"Hey man, can you put this on my arm?" 妓男

[Yeahman]

A tattoo is supposed to be exotic. And not necessarily Asian. I've seen many tattoos in Latin. Even if it is English writing it is always in calligraphy or other fancy font. Chinese makes it look better if you want to have the letters running vertically.

As for Asian Americans tattooing their actual Asian names, it makes more sense than a Westerner would think because it has meaning, especially last names.

Plus if you want a small tattoo, you don't have much of a choice, especially for guys. And a tattoo is just for show like ear piercings and highlighted hair. It's not like these people who get them think that there needs to be some spiritual bond with the tattoo.

Plus, most of my friends and I have them so it must be OK.

[ChairmanMah]

i read an article about a tattoo artist, I don't have the link right now but instead of tatttooing "princess" in chinese lettering, she tattooed "prostitute"

on a side note, Similiar story, i heard on a tv show, a bartender in japan taught a white girl a phrase which she though was something i cant remember but it actually meant wanna have sex? in japanese. And she was later told this and she realized that no wonder all the guys were all over her

[Tao]

I know someone who was stupid enough to put the chinese character for tiger on his chest because he wanted to be known as "Tony the Tiger". What a retard.

don't judge me!:frown:

[BaiginLong]

at most the only Chinese character's I might put on my body are either
honor, justice, loyalty, or something in that category
maybe dragon or tiger
but that's it

something to sort of represent the way of the warrior I'm trying to live
but still I'd rather not do something like that
why have it tattooed when you can demonstrate what you stand for instead by actions

[SunWuKong]

they should really get someone who knows the language to suggest to them something to tattoo. most of the time they're tattooing something that's a phrase translated from English. it just doesn't work like that because those phrases don't actually exist in Chinese or Japanese, and then it'll end up looking weird. that's something that a lot of mono-lingual speakers don't comprehend, that translations sometimes doesn't work.

[hooligan]

as dorky as this sounds i wanted my last name on my left shoulder blade and my mom's maiden chinese last name on my right. it's wu and yen. the wu is the kung fu wu, and i'm not entirely sure what yen's from.

[mr. x]

From the article:

OMFG! What a boob! [/SIZE]

haha, might as well get "boob" tattooed on their arm.

"yeah cuz u know i like chix and all."

"dude that means u ARE a boob"

[SunWuKong]

as dorky as this sounds i wanted my last name on my left shoulder blade and my mom's maiden chinese last name on my right. it's wu and yen. the wu is the kung fu wu, and i'm not entirely sure what yen's from.

nah, go for a Chinese saying instead.

[moJo]

as dorky as this sounds i wanted my last name on my left shoulder blade and my mom's maiden chinese last name on my right. it's wu and yen. the wu is the kung fu wu, and i'm not entirely sure what yen's from.
i kinda had that idea too. not necessarily for the shoulder blades though.

there's a white dude at my gym who has two chinese poems on his upper arms, one on each. he speaks fluent cantonese, too, cuz i hear him talking to some of the chinese guys (not the chicks) in the weight room. i almost dropped my weights when i heard it the first time. i just don't see that very often, or at all.

[moser]

Not a tattoo, but I saw someone wearing a t-shirt with the character for water.

[SunWuKong]

a friend of mine is probably going to kill me for keep discouraging people in tattooing their names on their bodies...

but think about it this way, how strange would you find it if a white person tattooed his/her name in English? that's how strange it is to tattoo your Asian name on your body.

disclaimer so that my friend doesn't kill me: however, in some cases, your surname might be more meaningful and that may be different, like the case of my friend since she shares the same surname as Confucius - who is called 孔子 in Chinese.

[mr. x]

if i ever make a cheesy teen movie im gonna have a scene where a white girl goes up to a chinese kid and is like "do u know what this says?" (shows him character tattoo). and the chinese guys like "u really wanna know?"

[teaz0r]

i <3 tattoos.

[Arex]

To each his or her own, I suppose. I got my last name as a tattoo. And I guess it won't even help me remember my name if I forget it 'cause it's on my back where I can't even see it. Hehe.

But at least I know what it means and it sure as hell don't mean "leg." :biggrin:

RX

[moJo]

i <3 tattoos.
me too! but i don't have any chinese characters.

i think the reason why i would put my last name in chinese characters, but not my last name in english...because i grew up here, and i already identify with my english name completely. my chinese name, esp in chinese characters is so not something that is ever on my mind. so a tat with my name in characters...it would remind me of my culture (not that i ever forget that i'm chinese), and remind me of my family. i dunno, this ain't comin out right. grr.

[hooligan]

nah, go for a Chinese saying instead.
i don't know any! haha, i'll ask my mom but then she might get suspicious.

[SunWuKong]

i don't know any! haha, i'll ask my mom but then she might get suspicious.

there're Tang dynasty poetry on this site (http://zhongwen.com/). you can take a line or two from one of them.

[hooligan]

there're Tang dynasty poetry on this site (http://zhongwen.com/). you can take a line or two from one of them.
hopefully a raunchy one :D

[Faithless]

It's quite a little fad:

http://www.wholesalestation.com/character.htm

http://store.doverpublications.com/0486417204.html

http://www.transname.com/tattoo.html

Wonder if anyone would go for "Chink's" tattooed on them. :rolleyes:

[Martino]

there're Tang dynasty poetry on this site (http://zhongwen.com/). you can take a line or two from one of them.

Hmmm-mmmm ... a Chinese tatoo ... now there's an idea ...

[AngryABCGirl]

I think a lot of AAs would get them to just show pride or just "stick it to the man" and wear their heritage proudly. Then there are just like those guys at the gym who like to look badass with indivdiaul characters that don't make much sense. Putting a saying or a proverb though, that sounds kinda sexy.

[Martino]

Actually ... I do have one. It's the single most silly & juvenile thing I've ever done.

I'll probably have it removed ... someday.

If it doesn't hurt too much.

[moJo]

Actually ... I do have one. It's the single most silly & juvenile thing I've ever done.

I'll probably have it removed ... someday.

If it doesn't hurt too much.
it will.

my friend is in the process of removing hers. but hers is pretty big...the bottom third of her back.

edit: and in relation to this thread, it is not chinese or asian-themed.

[rice cracker]

it will.

my friend is in the process of removing hers. but hers is pretty big...the bottom third of her back.

edit: and in relation to this thread, it is not chinese or asian-themed.

A tribal?

[moJo]

A tribal?
no, this flowers thingy, then black flame thingies that stop almost at her sides.
she got it when she was 17, and then 18.

[rice cracker]

no, this flowers thingy, then black flame thingies that stop almost at her sides.
she got it when she was 17, and then 18.

Ah, youth. :biggrin:

This thread and stories like this make me kind of glad I was always too poor to get a tattoo when I really wanted one. God, I would hate to have the little crouching demon tattoo that I wanted when I was 17/18. :biggrin:

[537]

I want another half-sleeve

[moJo]

Ah, youth. :biggrin:

This thread and stories like this make me kind of glad I was always too poor to get a tattoo when I really wanted one. God, I would hate to have the little crouching demon tattoo that I wanted when I was 17/18. :biggrin:
very true. i wish i had put one of mine in a different spot. but as for tats in general, i want a few more of them. but no half-sleeves, like 537, unfortunately. it sucks that only guys can cover all their tats, in business or business-social functions.

crouching demon? :confused:

[kimpossible]

a friend of mine is probably going to kill me for keep discouraging people in tattooing their names on their bodies...

but think about it this way, how strange would you find it if a white person tattooed his/her name in English? that's how strange it is to tattoo your Asian name on your body.

disclaimer so that my friend doesn't kill me: however, in some cases, your surname might be more meaningful and that may be different, like the case of my friend since she shares the same surname as Confucius - who is called ?? in Chinese.

It's not a big deal to get the kanji/han zi tattoos here in the US or pretty much anywhere outside of say China or Japan, but if you're Asian and have visible tattoos like that in China/Japan/HK/Taiwan I think you'd be readily identified as American born and not necessarily in the most flattering way... it wouldn't translate culturally because not many people do it or find a significance in it that many Asian-Americans could. Similar to say the differences in views about tanning.

I wouldn't go so far to say don't do it at all if you like it, but if you're ethnically Asian I'd recommend getting them in an easy to cover up place in order to avoid getting shit from relatives or labeling from other people.

[moJo]

eh, but i think most of us who are ethnically asian, but american-born/raised will be identified as american-born anyway, when we step off the place over there. and i'd be unfazed by what relatives and especially random people might label me as, if i got a chinese character tat (and i'd only get my surname). my only concern with visible tattoos is work-related.

[Banana]

Actually ... I do have one. It's the single most silly & juvenile thing I've ever done.

I'll probably have it removed ... someday.

If it doesn't hurt too much.

*breaks out the cheese grater*

[pfc beansprout]

-yeah...i got one done last year...i double-triple-quad checked to make sure it was right...hey, i fig if i don't like it down the road, get that surgery done...u know, no biggie...down the road, surgery will get cheaper and better (i'm assuming...lasik for example is fairly cheap nowadays)......

[sageb1]

While I can empathize with the current trend to get a tattoo of a Chinese character, this body isn't getting one.

My rationalization is this: I was born without a tattoo. Besides, it's a fad.

However, I'd still admire someone else's tattoo.

[younggiftedandblack]

Ah, youth. :biggrin:

This thread and stories like this make me kind of glad I was always too poor to get a tattoo when I really wanted one. God, I would hate to have the little crouching demon tattoo that I wanted when I was 17/18. :biggrin:

Me too. I can't wait till like 30 years from now when these people who are getting tats on the small of their backs (because it's fadish) turn into old people.

[Martino]

*breaks out the cheese grater*

Aaaiiieeee!

Me too. I can't wait till like 30 years from now when these people who are getting tats on the small of their backs (because it's fadish) turn into old people.

I wonder. When people's skin starts to sag and wrinkle, will it change the meaning of the kanji etc.?

My tat makes me 'read' as either political or slutty, depending on whether the interpreter understands the slang...

[Arex]

While I can empathize with the current trend to get a tattoo of a Chinese character, this body isn't getting one.

My rationalization is this: I was born without a tattoo. Besides, it's a fad.
Well, technically, we were born without clothes too. And hairstyles. And jewelry and other body adornments...=) Tattoos have been around forever. They're just becoming more widely accepted among the non-trucker/biker/gangster sects in recent years. Don't know that I'd call it a fad.

Arex

[rice cracker]

http://www.zug.com/pranks/tattoo/

Click, is funny AND safe for work (how often does that happen again?)

[AliBabaIncorporated]

my only concern with visible tattoos is work-related.
My friend's gym in HK still has a regulation that they reserve the right to revoke your membership without a refund if you openly display tattoos on your body in any public area of the gym (even bathrooms). I'm guessing it's a standard clause to let them eject gangsters or something.

[SunWuKong]

My friend's gym in HK still has a regulation that they reserve the right to revoke your membership without a refund if you openly display tattoos on your body in any public area of the gym (even bathrooms). I'm guessing it's a standard clause to let them eject gangsters or something.


i'm willing to bet that you can get away with it if you are tattooed and you speak fluent English. tattoos, non-ear piercings, wild haircuts and the like always gets people staring and wondering if you're some kind of a gangster, but if you are from overseas, then all of a sudden it offers an explanation for your non-average appearance. it's such bullshit.

[Shinran]

While I can empathize with the current trend to get a tattoo of a Chinese character, this body isn't getting one.

My rationalization is this: I was born without a tattoo. Besides, it's a fad.

However, I'd still admire someone else's tattoo.
Sage--I'd suggest your family kamon as a tat. Got one on my back the size of a dinner plate. 8 hours on the table and two follow-ups of three hours each.

I will always be the last son of the last son and my kamon tat has and will always be part of who I am.

No pain, no gain. No pain, no pleasure.

[robotic]

are kanji japanese letters? or do the chinese and japanese interconnect?

[Shinran]

are kanji japanese letters? or do the chinese and japanese interconnect?
Kanji is a distinct Japanese type of writing. There are three really, but can't remember the names of the other two. The most basic is the most common whereas Kanji is a little more open to interpretation.

Chinese characters are very similar and will sometimes have the same meanings (or close to them). Someone told me a story about how a Chinese sailor got blown off course to Japan. When he landed, a local Japanese villager met him and couldn't understand the language. When they started writing in the sand, the could recognize some of the characters and formed the basis of communication between the two. Must have been about 1500 years ago.

Cheers!

[lena99]

Kanji is a distinct Japanese type of writing. There are three really, but can't remember the names of the other two. The most basic is the most common whereas Kanji is a little more open to interpretation.

Chinese characters are very similar and will sometimes have the same meanings (or close to them). Someone told me a story about how a Chinese sailor got blown off course to Japan. When he landed, a local Japanese villager met him and couldn't understand the language. When they started writing in the sand, the could recognize some of the characters and formed the basis of communication between the two. Must have been about 1500 years ago.

Cheers!
kanji, hiragana, katakana
There is also the old style Japanese characters (one character=idea/object) and the modern style kanji based originally on chinese characters, but now quite a bit different.

The hiragana is sound based, originally the only script women or commoners were allowed to used because chinese characters were reserved for upper class men and priests.

Katakana is sound based and used for foreign and loan words.

[Faithless]

Here's a small article that encourages it.

Get your kanji on (http://www.engadget.com/entry/7155163416327152/)
Japanese-language afficionados and manga otaku may be interested to know that someone’s come up with a Java app that lets you send and receive email in Japanese from your inferior Western cellphone. What possible use is that to you? Have a Japanese friend email you that kanji character you’re getting tattooed on your arm next week—then at least you’ll know it (a) exists and (b) is the right way up. (Made by Omronsoft, though they don’t divulge any info on their site; K-Tai Watch claims they’re going to sell it to handset makers rather than us individuals, which if true means Omronsoft is so off our Christmas card list.)

[kimpossible]

what a great use of technology. load a software for a language you don't know enough to tell if it's right side up.

[SunWuKong]

Japanese-language afficionados and manga otaku may be interested to know that someone’s come up with a Java app that lets you send and receive email in Japanese from your inferior Western cellphone. What possible use is that to you? Have a Japanese friend email you that kanji character you’re getting tattooed on your arm next week—then at least you’ll know it (a) exists and (b) is the right way up. (Made by Omronsoft, though they don’t divulge any info on their site; K-Tai Watch claims they’re going to sell it to handset makers rather than us individuals, which if true means Omronsoft is so off our Christmas card list.)

hah! basically using Java to enable your phone to do what it can already do, but is prevented by telcos from doing.