Even though “Japanese or Chinese character as a tattoo” has been mocked for decades now, it really doesn’t folks from deciding that it will somehow work for them. Data enthusiasts will already know that good tattoos of this nature don’t get photographed, but the bad ones are still a testament to why you should, at the very least, get a good translation first.
Someone asked “People who understand Chinese/Japanese, what's the dumbest thing you've seen tattooed on someone?” and people shared the worst examples they’ve encountered. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments down below.
#41
Tattoo that said 米 (rice). It’s possible he wanted that, but judging by the guy, he more likely was going for 火 (fire) or 水 (water).
12points
#42
Once met a guy who had 家 tattooed on his arm and tried to tell me it meant home and family etc. I just smiled and nodded, because sure it does, but on its own without context it just means "house".
The cherry on top was that the font was like the
Japanese equivalent of Arial, so it seemed like he'd just typed something into google translate and had the result tattooed onto him directly.
The cherry on top was that the font was like the
Japanese equivalent of Arial, so it seemed like he'd just typed something into google translate and had the result tattooed onto him directly.
Report
12points
#43
Bit late but oh man I've been dying to share this story for years.
I was standing in line at a fish & chip shop one day, and some hippy-lookin dreadlocked dude in front of me had these three Chinese characters down the back of his leg. " 禾 口 平 " in that order, top to bottom.
I stared for ages and ages, then realised it was supposed to read " 和平 ", but whoever his tattooist was had split the " 和 " into two characters.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I think " 禾 口 平 " means *grain mouth flat*.
I was standing in line at a fish & chip shop one day, and some hippy-lookin dreadlocked dude in front of me had these three Chinese characters down the back of his leg. " 禾 口 平 " in that order, top to bottom.
I stared for ages and ages, then realised it was supposed to read " 和平 ", but whoever his tattooist was had split the " 和 " into two characters.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I think " 禾 口 平 " means *grain mouth flat*.
Report
12points
#44
Met a person who told me his tattoo meant focus in Japanese.
The tattoo was: フォーカス
This is actually just the English word “Focus” but written in Japanese and pronounced: “Foe—kah—sue”.
The tattoo was: フォーカス
This is actually just the English word “Focus” but written in Japanese and pronounced: “Foe—kah—sue”.
12points
#46
One time I was at the seaside and saw a lady - long blonde hair, model-like appearance. I had to do a double/triple take at her back, because she had a giant 豚 (PIG) tattoed there...
I've also seen a pic of a guy on the internet who proudly showed off his chest tattoo that said 少年愛 (gay love). I still wonder if that one was on purpose. I heard tales about foreigners going to tattoo artists in Japan asking for something like "crystal dragon" and ending up with 外人 (foreigner) instead. Could be either way lol.
I've also seen a pic of a guy on the internet who proudly showed off his chest tattoo that said 少年愛 (gay love). I still wonder if that one was on purpose. I heard tales about foreigners going to tattoo artists in Japan asking for something like "crystal dragon" and ending up with 外人 (foreigner) instead. Could be either way lol.
Report
10points
#47
I saw a guy with the Japanese kanji for "fun" as in enjoying oneself, but he added the hiragana after it for 楽しみ. It looks really dumb, kind of like adding a period after a word on a tattoo.
10points
#49
Saw a middle-aged man with ‘仙女’ tattooed on him. It means ‘fairy’.
Report
8points
