Recently updated on February 21st, 2024 at 07:50 pm
Chinese calligraphy tattoos have become a raging phenomenon in the west since the 1980s. Just take a stroll down the street, you would often spot people whether old or young, black, or white wearing Chinese calligraphy tattoos in diverse styles, colors, and meanings.
Chinese tattoo translation often comes with a much deeper meaning than what lies on the surface. Whatever your reason is for choosing a Chinese calligraphy tattoo and having it permanently etched on your body, you should think about what’s important for you beforehand and always make sure your Chinese tattoo translation is correct.
What’s Chinese Calligraphy Tattoo?
Chinese calligraphy tattoo refers to the tattoo of Chinese characters in an artistic and stylized form that is known as Chinese calligraphy. The Chinese word for a tattoo is “Cishen 刺身” or “Wenshen 纹身”, which means “puncturing the body”.
The History of Chinese Tattoos – Tattoo or Taboo?
In Ancient China
The art of tattooing has existed in China for thousands of years, however, it’s not a common practice. Throughout Chinese history, tattoos are often considered a brutal form of art that could lead to defamation of the body.
At some points in Chinese history, tattoos were treated as signs of punishment, and as taboos for many. Tattoos were stamped on the faces of criminals who were convicted of severe crimes, then they’re exiled to remote places. It’s a form of punishment known as “Cipei 刺配”, which means tattooing and exiling.
In China Now
In modern China, tattoos are still somewhat associated with organized crime and the criminal underworld. However, with time passing by tattoo art is gradually being more socially accepted thanks to the influence of celebrities and sports stars.
The most renowned Chinese tattoo comes from the patriotic national hero Yue Fei (岳飞), a South Song Dynasty military general who resigned and returned home after a battle with the northern enemies.
His mother was angry upon his return home, telling him he should serve the country with boundless loyalty. To remind him of the mission she tattooed four Chinese characters “精忠報國 (traditional Chinese, Jing Zhong Bao Guo, ‘serve the country with ultimate loyalty’)” on his back with her sewing noodle.
Why Do People Get Chinese Calligraphy Tattoos?
Why do people across the globe prefer tattooing exotic Chinese/Japanese symbols and patterns permanently on their bodies in a language they don’t understand? There’re numerous reasons.
- They’re different from normal language. People get tattoos because they want to be different and need something unique. The Chinese characters with completely different writing systems from Latin languages fit people’s motivation of getting tattoos that distinguish them from others.
- They’re more mystical. There’s a long-held stereotype in the West about Chinese characters as they’re often associated with traditional practices, for instance, Fengshui, Yin, Yang, Taichi, meditation, etc.
- They’re artistic. There’re five basic script types of Chinese calligraphy: Seal, Clerical, Cursive, Semi-Cursive, and Regular. Calligraphy is the fine art of stylized writing converting characters into expressive images using different techniques to produce an aesthetically pleasing script.
- For people who are interested in Asian culture. For people who are obsessed with Asian culture or plan to travel to Asia, it’s cool to get a Chinese or Japanese calligraphy tattoo. It would become a conversation starter and an eye-catcher as people would be attracted by your tattoo in their language.
5 Celebrities and Their Chinese Tattoos
#1 David Beckham
Unlike the common way of using short tattoos, Beckham chose a long Chinese proverb in a fancy calligraphy style to sweep along his abdomen. The old Chinese proverb, “生死有命富贵在天” means “Death and life have determined appointments/Riches and honors depend upon heaven”.
💡 This is also one of my favorite proverbs.
#2 Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber has an extensive amount of 56 permanent symbols and drawings covering his body, and the most eye-catching one is on his left arm. The generic Chinese character “曲” has multiple translations depending on its context and other characters it’s matched with. It can mean song, or wrong, bent, or crooked.
💡 From a first glance, I would think the tattoo “曲” shows his passion for music.
#3 Britney Spears
Much like Bieber, Britney tattooed a single character “奇” on her pelvis, believing that it means “mysterious”. However, there’re multiple translations of “奇”, it can also mean “weird” or “freakish” if paired with “怪”.
#4 Nicki Minaj
The tattoo of Nicki Minaj is in traditional Chinese, “上帝与你常在”, which means “May God always be with you”.
#5 Kenya Martin
The NBA basketball player has a Chinese idiom “患得患失” tattooed in his left arm. “患得患失” refers to a state of mind, worrying about personal gains and losses.
💡 What do you think about the above tattoos? Please tell us in the comment section.
2 Gorgeous Collections of Popular Chinese Tattoo
Check our collections of Chinese tattoos we found online.
3 Easy Steps to Get Perfect Chinese Tattoo Translation
Having a tattoo written in a language that you don’t understand and stamped permanently on your body is rarely a good idea. Just do a quick googling on Chinese symbol tattoos and you’ll find that the internet is riddled with innumerable Chinese tattoo failed stories.
To ensure that your body isn’t another victim, we recommend you follow the three steps below to get a perfect Chinese tattoo translation.
Total Time: 2 days
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Translate Your Tattoo and Understand the Meaning
First and foremost, have your tattoo translated by a professional Chinese tattoo translation service provider before you’re inked. Understand the meaning and cultural relevance of the symbols and words.
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Decide if You’d Like the Tattoo in Simplified or Traditional Chinese
Most people choose traditional characters since they’re more elaborate and aesthetically pleasing. Whatever you choose, make sure all the characters are either simplified or traditional, not a mixture.
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Find a Tattoo Artist Who Knows How to Write Chinese Characters
Find a tattoo artist who has an in-depth knowledge of Chinese characters and wouldn’t goof up a single stroke to ink the characters on your body.
Chinese Tattoo Translation Services by Chinese Copywriter
Looking for a Chinese calligraphy tattoo? Our seasoned team of native speakers with a deep understanding of Chinese culture can help you get a perfect Chinese tattoo. Place an order for Chinese tattoo translation services on our Fiverr, or emails us if you have any questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Chinese Tattoos Called?
Chinese tattoos are known as “Cishen 刺身” or “Wenshen 纹身”, a term that means literally “puncturing the body”.
Why Do People Get Chinese Calligraphy Tattoos?
People get Chinese calligraphy tattoos because they think the tattoos are cool, mystical, artistic, or maybe they’re interested in Asian culture.
Why Do So Many People Get Incorrect Chinese Tattoos?
People get incorrect Chinese tattoos because they use incorrect Chinese tattoo translation done by machine translation, or they’re inked by tattoo artists who don’t know much about the Chinese language.
What is the Chinese Symbol for Family?
The Chinese symbol for family is “家 (jiā)”.
What is the Most Popular Animal in Chinese Culture?
The most popular animal in Chinese culture is dragon.
What is the Chinese Symbol for Love?
The Chinese symbol for love is “愛 (ài)” in traditional Chinese and “爱 (ài)” in simplified Chinese.
Is it Cultural Appropriate to Get a Chinese Character Tattoo if You’re Not Chinese?
Yes, Chinese characters are listed in Wikipedia’s page on cultural appropriation. Just make sure you get the translation right.
Chinese Tattoo Translation – Inspiring Ideas
Chinese Zodiac Tattoos
| Code # | English | Simplified Chinese | Traditional Chinese |
| A001 | Rat | 鼠 | 鼠 |
| A002 | Ox | 牛 | 牛 |
| A003 | Tiger | 虎 | 虎 |
| A004 | Rabbit | 兔 | 兔 |
| A005 | Dragon | 龙 | 龍 |
| A006 | Snake | 蛇 | 蛇 |
| A007 | Horse | 马 | 馬 |
| A008 | Goat | 羊 | 羊 |
| A009 | Monkey | 猴 | 猴 |
| A010 | Rooster | 鸡 | 雞 |
| A011 | Dog | 狗 | 狗 |
| A012 | Pig | 猪 | 豬 |
Chinese Philosophy Tattoos – Wuxing (Five Elements)
| Code # | English | Simplified Chinese | Traditional Chinese |
| A013 | Water | 水 | 水 |
| A014 | Fire | 火 | 火 |
| A015 | Wood | 木 | 木 |
| A016 | Metal | 金 | 金 |
| A017 | Earth | 土 | 土 |
Confucius Tattoos – Five Virtues
| Code # | English | Simplified Chinese | Traditional Chinese |
| A018 | Benevolence | 仁 | 仁 |
| A019 | Righteousness | 义 | 義 |
| A020 | Propriety | 礼 | 禮 |
| A021 | Wisdom | 智 | 智 |
| A022 | Trustworthiness | 信 | 信 |
Popular Chinese Sayings
| Code # | English | Simplified Chinese | Traditional Chinese |
| C010 | A fall into the pit, a gain in your wit | 吃一堑，长一智 | 吃一塹，長一智 |
| C005 | What you believe, you can achieve | 有志者，事竟成 | 有誌者，事竟成 |
| D001 | Phoenix rising from the flames | 凤凰涅槃 | 鳳凰涅槃 |
| D016 | Keep something for a rainy day | 未雨绸缪 | 未雨綢繆 |
| D022 | Seeing is believing | 眼见为实 | 眼見爲實 |
Classic Chinese Love Poems
| Code # | English | Simplified Chinese | Traditional Chinese |
| I003 | In the sky, may we be two birds flying side by side, On earth, may we be be two branches inseparably tied. | 在天愿作比翼鸟，在地愿为连理枝 | 在天願做比翼鳥，在地願爲連理枝 |
| I004 | If the love between two people is everlasting, why need to stay together day and night? | 两情若是长久时，又岂在朝朝暮暮 | 兩情若是久長時，又豈在朝朝暮暮 |
| I008 | Gather them till full is your hand; They would revive fond memories. | 愿君多采撷，此物最相思 | 願君多采擷，此物最相思 |
| I007 | When Autumn’s Golden Wind embraces Dew of Jade. All the love scenes on earth, however many, fade. | 金风玉露一相逢，便胜却人间无数 | 金風玉露一相逢，便勝卻人間無數 |
Translator
Ouyang is a seasoned Chinese translator with 13 years of experience. With proficiency in translating for tourism, cosmetics, textiles, electronics, footwear, kitchenware, legal fields, and more, she helps businesses thrive in the Chinese market. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the Guangdong University of Foreign Studies.