I’m thinking of getting a tattoo done in Traditional Chinese, but I have heard some horror stories about some shops that fail to do the script correctly. I don’t know Chinese myself, and live in small-town Alaska, where I don’t know anybody who knows what they’re talking about when it comes to Chinese. My only resource I’ve been using is Google Translate (I’m sure this sounds pathetic.), and my concern is that the characters don’t actually mean what I want it to mean. Does anybody have any suggestions or additional resources I can use?
Here’s an example, not what I’m going to print, but an idea I had. It should say “Meant to be” according to Google Translate: 意思是
Here’s an example, not what I’m going to print, but an idea I had. It should say “Meant to be” according to Google Translate: 意思是
I’m not sure about Chinese but from it doesn’t look to mean “meant to be” from my perspective. I know that in Japanese you could say 自身通 which translates to something like “ones way” or “this person path”. It would be pronounced jishindo. If it’s strictly Chinese you’re after though sorry I couldn’t be of much help 😛
EDIT: Oh I also forgot to mention that either way you go, I would suggest getting the characters done in a non-computer font. Something like this:
Thanks man, yeah I definitely would do a more natural, handwritten style showing the strokes and everything. I like Japanese, and actually know more Japanese than I do Chinese, however I am pretty obsessed with Chinese culture and am thinking of going with a Chinese proverb that fits me well. The “meant to be” phrase is something different I’m getting in hebrew for my wife. I just haven’t decided on what I want yet.
My biggest concern is a correct translation. I think it will be too easy to mistranslate to where it either means nothing, or would sound completely incoherent.
My biggest concern is a correct translation. I think it will be too easy to mistranslate to where it either means nothing, or would sound completely incoherent.
I feel yah man! I’m the exact contrast to you only with Japanese culture 😛
I think that for your tattoo, you only need the two characters 意是 for it to say “meant to be”.
The character 思 mean considering so adding that means that you consider to be. But I think the message you’re trying to convey is that you’re meant to be and it’s not an option.
Or another option is 目的是 which would translate to “your purpose is to be”.
These tattoos can be tough because asian and english poetry (‘meant to be’ is a somewhat poetic phrase) is different from one-another.
My advice to you is to get your tattoo done by a Chinese or Japanese tattoo artist. They tend to know eachothers Kanji and Hanzi pretty well so if you’re tattoo seems off to them they will know best!
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