| cent years Chinese tattoos have become extremely | | | | language. And just to make sure, get a second and |
| popular. The authentic characters are fully of history | | | | third opinion if possible. Somebody else may be able |
| and mystery, especially if you come from a | | | | to suggest a better option. |
| non-Chinese culture. And it's easy to appreciate the | | | | Once you find someone you trust, avoid the |
| beauty and artistry of Chinese calligraphy whether or | | | | temptation to show them a design that you like and |
| not you understand the subtle meanings that it | | | | ask them what it means. They may agree with you |
| conveys. | | | | just to make things easy, when it would be better to |
| But it's so easy to let all that excitement blind you to | | | | use different characters. |
| the dangers of getting an impulsive Chinese tattoo, | | | | Make sure that you explain to them the underlying |
| as these two stories illustrate; | | | | meaning or message that you want the design to |
| Chinese Tattoo Mistake 1 | | | | convey. Someone who understands the language |
| In 2002 a newspaper reported that 18 year old | | | | may be able to suggest another design that is more |
| hairdresser Lee Becks paid £90 to get a | | | | appropriate. In many cases there may be an idiom |
| Chinese characters tattooed onto his upper arm. He | | | | which is more suitable than a direct translation. |
| was really pleased with his new tattoo and thought | | | | The Chinese language is packed full of great sounding |
| that the mandarin letters meant "Love, honour and | | | | four character idioms which can't be directly |
| obey". | | | | translated into English but are able to convey almost |
| But when he visited his local Chinese take-away a | | | | any concept or idea. However, if you go for this |
| young Chinese woman reluctantly told him that his | | | | option, it's even more impressive if you can learn the |
| new design really meant "At the end of day, this is | | | | translation, transliteration and pronunciation in Chinese. |
| an ugly boy". | | | | After all, nearly every non-Chinese person that you |
| So the next day he went back to the tattoo studio, | | | | meet will ask what it means. |
| only to discover that the artist had shut up shop and | | | | If you want to have your name translated into a |
| was nowhere to be found. To make matters worse, | | | | Chinese tattoo, please be aware that different |
| when he uncovered the design at a nightclub, it | | | | speakers may provide different translations |
| attracted a group of Chinese girls who thought it | | | | depending upon their local dialect. |
| was a great joke. After that, he made sure that his | | | | Certain western names can't be directly translated |
| new Chinese tattoo was kept covered until he could | | | | into Chinese. So consider adopting a real Chinese |
| afford the £600 for laser removal treatment. | | | | name just as many Chinese people adopt |
| Chinese Tattoo Mistake 2 | | | | Westernized names. Get a Chinese person that you |
| In 2004, Joanne Raine, a 19 year old from Darlington | | | | know to suggest a few names and choose the one |
| spent £80 getting her boyfriend's nickname | | | | that you like best. Just make sure that you cross |
| "Roo" tattooed on her stomach. She was delighted | | | | check what it means with other Chinese speakers. |
| with the design, which was a symbol of her | | | | Once you've decided upon the characters that you |
| commitment and undying love. | | | | want, get a native speaker who is good at calligraphy |
| Then her problems began with a visit to her local | | | | to write out your design. Get them to make a few |
| Chinese take-away. When she revealed her new | | | | sketches of the design which you can take to your |
| tattoo, an embarrassed member of staff told her | | | | tattoo artist. |
| that the design meant "Supermarket". She | | | | Make sure that your artist understands the Chinese |
| subsequently split up with her boyfriend and can't | | | | language and has experience of turning Chinese |
| afford to have the design removed. | | | | calligraphy into tattoos. Finally, discuss the type of |
| So to make sure that you avoid a real horror show | | | | font that you want your artist to use. As with all |
| under your skin, take great care when planning your | | | | languages some fonts are better than others. Do you |
| new Chinese tattoo. | | | | want modern handwriting or the elegance of classic |
| The most important thing is to consult a native | | | | Chinese calligraphy brush strokes? |
| speaker. Make sure that they actually grew up in the | | | | Take your time, find the right design, get the right |
| country and are fluent in the language. Third or fourth | | | | people to help and your Chinese tattoo will be a |
| generation Chinese Americans or Chinese Europeans | | | | source of pride for the rest of your life. |
| won't have such a thorough understanding of the | | | | |