Are the Characters correct?

[devildog4]

are these accurate?

[Shelley]

The first one is not Grace, it is fú 福 meaning Good Fortune. It is usually used for Good fortune but it can also mean Happiness, but there is a much more common one used for Happiness xìng 幸

 

The second one is Peace. píng 平

 

 

[Sammer8]

First one is closer to 'fortune' or 'good fortune.' Second one is 'peace.' Getting a tattoo? haha

[dwq]

devildog4 is smart to ask questions before getting a tattoo.  However, it is still unwise to get a tattoo in a language you have no knowledge of.  If I can't discourage you enough, at least let me tell you that, despite what Shelly and Sammer8 said, 平 by itself does not mean "Peace" in modern Chinese.

 

That character appears in several compounds that is related to the meaning "Peace", and someone can probably infer that it has that connotation, and that's why it ends up on a sheet like that at a tattooist's.  Perhaps at one time it even means "Peace" in classical Chinese, I don't know.

 

But if you point at your "平" tattoo and tell a Chinese person "Hey look!  I got a tattoo meaning 'Peace' in Chinese!" then he/she will probably think, "Am I going to give this Foreigner a lecture on how Chinese works and also upsetting him/her now that he/she has 'Flat' tattooed permanently in an ugly typeface on his/her body?  Nah, I'll just smile innocently and say this..."  Then he/she will smile at you and say, "Yes, that's a lovely tattoo you have!"

 

[Shelley]

Yes, strictly speaking 和平 is peace.

 

I agree with your comments @dwq I too usually discourage tattoos in a language you don't know, but I have gotten tired of continually reiterating this and have largely given up trying to dissuade people doing it.

 

I feel at least if they get it right they might not end up looking so foolish, but they may still have bad calligraphy which can destroy even the noblest of intentions.

 

As I always say before you ink, think, and think again, and again.