Tattooing is an art and a very delicate one, thus you must always be careful what you need to get as a tattoo, in any sign or language. Tattoos are permanent and thus a hasty decision or a misinterpretation might lead to your getting stuck with a wrong tattoo all your life or go for a costly laser removal of the tattoo.
Chinese Tattoos are classic in appeal and have found a fresh lease of popularity as Hollywood celebrities are getting Chinese Tattoos done, in letters, symbols and signs. The most common type of tattoo is getting your name tattooed in the Chinese alphabet. Chinese tattoos symbolize the mystic appeal of the Far East and thus, they have a timeless appeal.
So, what are the things that you need to keep in mind before getting that perfect Chinese Tattoo?
Always ask for a sketch or a printout of the design or the sign you want to get tattooed, so that you do not end up with a weird-looking design or symbol on you.
If you have friends who know Chinese, then ask them about the significance of popular signs and symbols or Chinese words which you might want to get tattooed. It is always best to consult people who know the cultural aspect of the Chinese. Do not trust your tattoo artist blindly as he/she might take you for a ride.
If you are getting your name tattooed in Chinese, then you must make allowance for the fact that there might not be a literal representation of it, as Chinese characters differ from Western languages. You might have to consult Chinese friends again who will suggest the closest translation of your name. Check the meaning of the Chinese name and try to find a name that is symbolic.
Check out the calligraphy in which your name or your favorite phrase is about to be tattooed. In English, we have calligraphy which ranges from cartoony to classical; modern to technical and several other types of writing. Thus, if you are choosing a daring name or cute name, then make sure you do your research on Chinese calligraphic styles so that it is written in the proper style and does not end up looking childish or ridiculous.
Chinese characters are very beautiful, so you need not worry about the aesthetic appeal of your Chinese tattoo. On many occasions, people enquire about the meaning of your tattoos. In that case, you can choose a tattoo which relates to a Chinese story or myth so that you do not have to merely translate the characters but you can also impress people with a nice story about Chinese culture.
Chinese tattoos come with one problem: they get dated very easily, so make sure that the tattooist tells you the meaning of the sign or word being used in the design and whether the sign or word will have a significant meaning down the years. So, always consult a native Chinese speaker before getting the tattoo inked so that you do not end up with Chinese symbols that are meaningless when translated.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3622940
