Chinese Tattoo – Get It Right!

A Chinese tattoo is fast becoming a popular design even among people from the West. There is now a wide acceptance of the Chinese culture, and a Chinese tattoo looks cool, especially if it says something that means a lot to you.

Yes, a Chinese tattoo is usually a word or phrase that is engraved on a part of your body using Chinese characters. As such, it would help a lot if you were familiar with Mandarin or Cantonese. This way, you’re sure of the meaning of the Chinese text being placed on your body.

However, if you’re not familiar with any of the Chinese languages but really want a Chinese tattoo then fret not. There are still ways for you to ensure that you get the right meaning for your tattoo. It would be best for you to proceed with a lot of care if you’re planning on getting a Chinese tattoo. The tattoo is something that you will carry for the rest of your life, and you surely won’t want to end up wearing a Chinese tattoo which has an embarrassing or offensive meaning.

Below are some tips to make sure that you’re happy with the outcome of your Chinese tattoo:

• After you’ve consulted a tattoo artist, request for a copy or printout of the Chinese tattoo design.
• Show the Chinese tattoo design to a number of Chinese individuals to get their opinion on the meaning of the text.
• When asking around for what the text means, it would be better for you not to mention what you think it means so that you’ll have a better chance of getting honest answers. Some may not want to offend and concede that the meaning’s close to what you think it means. Remember, you want it to mean exactly the way you intend it to.
• Try to explain what you want to convey. Maybe they would have suggestions on well-known Chinese proverbs or phrases that you can use.
• If you want your name to be translated to Chinese but there’s no Chinese counterpart for it then ask a Chinese friend to give you a Chinese name. Again, check out what the name means. If you like it then you can use it on your Chinese tattoo.
• Take note that Chinese characters can also be written in different ways – sort of like different penmanship. So you might want to ask an expert on Chinese calligraphy to write the Chinese text for you.

Planning for your Chinese tattoo is something you should take seriously, especially if the language is not native to you. Your Chinese tattoo will be a permanent part of your body, so be sure it’s something you can be proud of!