New Members chueys Posted April 13, 2013 at 11:09 PM New Members Report Share Posted April 13, 2013 at 11:09 PM I have an appointment to get a tattoo with Chinese letter, but after hours I searching I can't come up with a definite answer to whether or not if I put each letter alone vertically if the meaning of the whole thing will change? I'm trying to get "Freedom To Imagine" I believe I got somewhat close with this one but then comes the confusion with each one being vertical 的自由去想像 is this even correct? I am in desperate need for the correct way to write it vertically and would greatly appreciate any and all help thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imron Posted April 14, 2013 at 04:30 AM Report Share Posted April 14, 2013 at 04:30 AM I believe I got somewhat close with this one You might want to get somewhat closer before getting that tattoed permanently on your body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylee Posted April 14, 2013 at 05:36 AM Report Share Posted April 14, 2013 at 05:36 AM Get something closer in meaning, as imron advised, then show us the vertical version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelley Posted April 14, 2013 at 04:31 PM Report Share Posted April 14, 2013 at 04:31 PM I would cancel the appointment, as said above you need to get closer. Usually little sayings in Chinese comprise of 4 characters. 6 characters is clumsy. (character not letter) If you want people to read and understand your message why not have it done in a language people around you will be able understand. What is the point of trying to share a message in a language nobody around you will understand. Pick a nice font in english and get it written beautifully as a tattoo. Just because it is in Chinese characters doesn't impart anything special or magical to the words. As i always say with tattoos whatever language or design, think once, think twice, and then think some more and then some more I am 99% sure that being vertical does not change anything. It means the same what ever way you write it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lu Posted April 15, 2013 at 07:58 AM Report Share Posted April 15, 2013 at 07:58 AM Why would you make an appointment when you don't even know what you want? Why would you consider getting something that is 'somewhat close', would you also settle for tattooing LVOe when you were intending LOVE? Chinese is not some arcane magical fairy thing that you can only get 'somewhat close' to, it's a language spoken and written by about a billion people, each and every one of which would be able to tell you that 的自由去想像 is meaningless nonsense. Getting something written in Chinese when you have no clue about Chinese and how it is written doesn't make a motto or sentence deeper or more meaningful, the only thing it does is increase the odds that you get nonsense tattooed in botched-up calligraphy, and upside down too if you're not careful. If you want a tattoo that is meaningful and looks good, and you have settled on that particular sentence, then find a nice Latin font and get it tattooed in English. Then at least you can tell whether it's correct and looks good. If you insist on Chinese, get at least three native speakers to translate it for you. Then keep asking more native speakers until you arrive on something that they all agree is a good translation. Not 'yeah, sure, that kind of works' but GOOD. Then find a tattooist that knows Chinese and what good calligraphy looks like. Bring one or more of said native speakers to make sure it's done correctly and looks good. And take a look at hanzismatter.blogspot.com to get an idea of the many, many ways this can go wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and select your username and password later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.