roddy Posted June 17, 2009 at 05:22 AM Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 at 05:22 AM Now while plenty of us aren't keen on the idea of Chinese character tattoos, and often tell those turning up here to ask for advice that they're maybe not making the best decision . . . What if it was made compulsory tomorrow to get a Chinese character tattoo. What would you opt for, and where would you put it? I reckon I'd go for something to remind me of the fact that I should be doing the things I should be doing, rather than slacking off and writing posts like this. Something about discipline, motivation, and not watching quite so many US sitcoms. I'd find a four-character phrase (I just spent time looking for one, but really, I shouldn't be writing posts like this). Perhaps there's something in Buddhism about mindfullness that would work, if I interpret it in my own way. Arrange it as a square, read up down left right, as I think that'll look more balanced than four in a row. I might have it done to look like it'd been stamped on to make it a bit more interesting and a bit less generic Chinese-character-tattoo. Would probably go on the shoulder, maybe an ankle. If I could turn it on and off, the inside of a wrist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imron Posted June 17, 2009 at 05:26 AM Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 at 05:26 AM What if it was made compulsory tomorrow to get a Chinese character tattoo. What would you opt for,Revolution (and I don't mean a tattoo of that word ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLA 機器人坦克 Squad Posted June 17, 2009 at 06:05 AM Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 at 06:05 AM I wouldn't get a simple word or phrase. I would integrate it into a larger design or play with the design of the character itself, forming the strokes with other objects or people. Perhaps a huge tattoo of a shirtless hitler or stalin bursting out of my chest, and whichever one I'd choose, he would have a character tattooed somewhere on his body. His forehead or bicep, maybe. This would also work quite well because I could keep my chest completely shaved except for either one's moustache. I could groom, comb, and stroke the little cheststache. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadowdh Posted June 17, 2009 at 07:16 AM Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 at 07:16 AM I have 3 Chinese characters incorporated into a tattoo I got a few years ago, one I designed myself... they are 身，意，神 representing body mind spirit... I am thinking about getting a dragon wrapped around my upper arm going from my shoulder (where the head will be) down to my elbow (tail)... and along the body of the dragon I am thinking about having a phrase... possibly daoist... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbradfor Posted June 17, 2009 at 12:18 PM Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 at 12:18 PM 不憤不啟，不悱不發，舉一隅不以三隅反，則不復也 Humm, that seems too long for a tattoo, better as a wall scroll. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hofmann Posted June 20, 2009 at 08:01 AM Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 at 08:01 AM 丶 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liuzhou Posted June 20, 2009 at 08:40 AM Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 at 08:40 AM I'm with Imron on this one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeyah Posted June 20, 2009 at 08:54 AM Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 at 08:54 AM Perhaps there's something in Buddhism about mindfullness that would work, if I interpret it in my own way I'm not into tatoos really, but if I had to have one, your line of thought is very close to what I'd choose. I like this one very much: 大悲无泪 大悟无言 大笑无声 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylee Posted June 20, 2009 at 10:16 AM Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 at 10:16 AM I am not into tattoos. Nor Buddhism. But reading this thread the first thing that came up in my mind was 遠離顛倒夢想, probably because I've taken this photo and perhaps it is just so sad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishbone818 Posted June 30, 2009 at 08:01 PM Report Share Posted June 30, 2009 at 08:01 PM I always want to put "中国制造“ four characters on the back of my shoulder...... if (and only if) I were all that plus much more, I would have put "中国制造“ on the back of my shoulder vertically (left side) so others can have a good laugh. Maybe one of these days if I'm drunk enough.... hahahaha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob07 Posted August 29, 2012 at 04:50 AM Report Share Posted August 29, 2012 at 04:50 AM I've seen a grand total of one Chinese tattoo I really liked. I was walking along, minding my own business, when I saw the girl in front of me had had one of her arms amputated just below the shoulder. The remaining stump had a small and simple "力" tattoo. Maybe she was doubling down on the mutilation of her body as a way of giving the finger to the universe. Whatever her motivations, I really liked it. If I had to name a runner up, it would be this guy - http://www.chinese-forums.com/index.php?/topic/3273-hi/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelley Posted August 29, 2012 at 02:53 PM Report Share Posted August 29, 2012 at 02:53 PM I am also with imron. Up The Revolution!! Where do I sign up for the anti-tattooist army Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Demonic_Duck Posted August 29, 2012 at 03:43 PM Report Share Posted August 29, 2012 at 03:43 PM Not really sure, my Chinese isn't good enough to be able to select anything apt. Maybe 我的气垫船充满了鳗鱼 (Monty Python reference, idea stolen from omniglot.com). The DoS at the school I'm going to be working at, whose Chinese level is very high, has a tattoo that says "safe" in Chinese (can't remember the actual word), because he thinks safety is very important. It seems like an unusual choice of tattoo to me, but at least it's a hundred times better than getting some English cliché that's been google-translated into Chibberish (a word I just invented to describe a mixture of Chinese and gibberish). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edelweis Posted August 29, 2012 at 04:27 PM Report Share Posted August 29, 2012 at 04:27 PM I remember thinking "actually, what a great tattoo idea" when reading that post. An untranslatable word + translators footnote... Alternately, some kind of multilingual pun might be interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renzhe Posted August 30, 2012 at 01:10 PM Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 at 01:10 PM I am not into tattoos and don't plan to get one, but if I really REALLY had to, it would have to be "解放军", in a shamrock. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tooironic Posted August 30, 2012 at 02:00 PM Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 at 02:00 PM Not a big tatoo fan but I happen to like the look and meaning of the word 潇洒, especially in traditional form 瀟灑, so I guess I'd choose that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imron Posted August 30, 2012 at 03:04 PM Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 at 03:04 PM especially in traditional form 瀟灑 I think you'd be risking a bit much hoping the tattoo artist would get all of those strokes correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lu Posted August 31, 2012 at 10:59 AM Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 at 10:59 AM The idea of getting a tattoo with a footnote suddenly really appeals to me. I love footnotes. I suppose the tattoo would go on the upper arm and the footnote on, well, the foot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiana Posted August 31, 2012 at 09:33 PM Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 at 09:33 PM the first thing that came up in my mind was 遠離顛倒夢想' date=' probably because I've taken this photo and perhaps it is just so sad. Why so sad? What does 遠離顛倒夢想 mean? (I've got some vague idea what it means but it's very likely to be incorrect) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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