Types of Chinese Tattoo2: Chinese writing tattoos and Chinese character Tattoos

Chinese tattoos are not only used for fashion but to express one’s sentiments as well. Though Chinese tattoos are very symbolic in nature such as the dragon and the tiger tattoo, another kind of Chinese tattoo is popular today. This is called the Chinese character tattoo. With a Chinese character tattoo, you can express values such as strength, friendship, peach, courage, hope, etc. with a single character.

Yet despite being able to express these things in one character, it can also mean another thing depending on the purpose of the one sporting it. The Chinese language can be interpreted in many ways, thus the differences in the meaning of one character. Simplicity is probably what attracts a lot of people to get a Chinese character tattoo because one small character tattoo can already mean a whole lot.

The subtle meaning of Chinese character tattoos is one of its more attractive features aside from its aesthetic beauty. The West is very much crazy about these Chinese character tattoos, unintentionally promoted by the famous people who have these characters inked in their skins. Usually, the tattoo symbol of ‘kanji’ is used to express the different emotions a human being feels.

A liking for a Chinese character tattoo has to be founded upon. Many have suffered the consequence of permanently having a Chinese character on their skin only to find out that what it meant wasn’t originally what he wanted as a tattoo. Thus, it pays to do some research on the meanings of these characters before getting a Chinese character tattoo.

With over 100,000 Chinese characters to choose from, you have to be sure that you have the character you want inked on your skin. Aside from the usual symbols for love, strength, and peace, fashionable Chinese character tattoos include that which means family, determination, integrity, and harmony.

You can also get a Chinese character tattoo representing an idiomatic phrase. However, you have to ensure that the translation is correctly done. With the complexity of the Chinese language, you might end up with a nonsense phrase when interpreted by the Chinese people. Some of the more popular phrases as Chinese character tattoos include free will, I love you, inner beauty, and love conquers all.

It is also a fad nowadays that Chinese counterparts of English names are being used as tattoos. There are English names though that can be hard to translate into Chinese. When this happens, you can simply ask your Chinese friends to give you a name. Then you can research what your name means. See to it that you get your research from different sources so that you know exactly what it means and likewise get feedback from different Chinese people.

Whatever Chinese character tattoo you want, be aware about its meaning before getting inked. For sure, you don’t want to get a permanent tattoo which means ‘ugly’, do you? So, do your own part in researching the meaning of the Chinese character you want as a tattoo and own the symbolism of the character so you can embody it when you do get it inked on your skin.