Tatoo

[emitbrownne]

Hi everyone,
This is a non kendo related thread.
A friend of mine has a tatoo but is unsure on the meaning and prenunciation of the japanese kanji written.

He was told it means "living a peaceful life with meaning".

I'm not sure...in fact I havent a clue.

So if any of you glorious japanese readers out there could translate, it would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers in advance :D

Paulo

[AlexM]

It says: "You engage in intercourse with the local Scotsmen"

According to my dictionnary it is pronouced Giryoku and means willpower, energy, vitality (which you would need for all those Scotsmen). There might be a deeper meaning...

Seriously, why did he get a tatoo without checking out the meaning first?

[Neil Gendzwill]

Pronunciation: bo-nu he-do

[emitbrownne]

It says: "You engage in intercourse with the local Scotsmen"

According to my dictionnary it is pronouced Giryoku and means willpower, energy, vitality (which you would need for all those Scotsmen). There might be a deeper meaning...

Seriously, why did he get a tatoo without checking out the meaning first?
Thanks for the reply.. he actually thought it meant something like that (strength, power, vitality), but there was a discussion from his friends (who speak japanese) saying that it was off a menu saying amai udon.

It was my misinterpretation of what he was saying which led me to typing what I did. (he is from newcastle though, and I'm from lancashire.. there are certain language barriers :D)

Thanks

Paulo

[emitbrownne]

Pronunciation: bo-nu he-doThanks for that
Cheers ;)

[Neil Gendzwill]

No problem, insults-r-us.

[GMason]

Hi Paul,

The top Kanji, looks like is Ki or spirit.....

The Lower looks like Kanji is for Power as used in man.....

Not sure what they mean together.... I am finding out at the moment (In other words asking Leng what they mean). I'm sure Jeny will be able to help if I don't get back in time.

Disclaimer - I do not claim any responsibilty for my crappy Japanese or crappy reading of Kanji/Hiragana/Katakana. However If it does turn out to be correct I will claim all glory and will go on about it for weeks on end at the dojo...... :D

[mystic_kendoka]

yea, GMason is right..

[emitbrownne]

Ta Gareth,

The top Kanji, looks like is Ki or spirit..... Ok ... google search seems to agree with this.


The Lower looks like Kanji is for Power as used in man.....It also agrees with power....but what do you mean "as used in man" ?

Does this mean the pronunciation is not Giryoku as AlexM says??

What is the correct pronunciation?? KI-????

Paulo

[LNGUYEN]

It says: "I got the smallest one"

[Musha]

Hi in my dictionary this is Energy regarding [Energy, vitality], or Willpower Regarding [Spirit]. Not too difficult a combination Kanji :D.

Man also has the second Kanji at the bottom, because it came from a man using energy to work in the fields.
Check this site out

http://japanese.about.com/blkanji5.htm

[CKohalyk]

kiryoku (http://www2.alc.co.jp/ejr/index.php?word_in=%8BC%97%CD&word_in2=%82%A0%82%A2%82%A4%82%A6%82%A8&word_in3=w7LXOBn0FJxwyL5By4)

:D

[Nanbanjin]

kiryoku (http://www2.alc.co.jp/ejr/index.php?word_in=%8BC%97%CD&word_in2=%82%A0%82%A2%82%A4%82%A6%82%A8&word_in3=w7LXOBn0FJxwyL5By4)

:D
Also

Kiryoku (http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/search.php?MT=%B5%A4%CE%CF&je.x=30&je.y=12&je=%CF%C2%B1%D1&kind=ej&mode=0)

[Nanbanjin]

Also

Kiryoku (http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/search.php?MT=%B5%A4%CE%CF&je.x=30&je.y=12&je=%CF%C2%B1%D1&kind=ej&mode=0)
Based on my meagre knowledge of the Japanese language, unless 気力 means something special in Chinese, I think your friend could have done better.
I think kiryoku is used too often in the negative to be used for a tatoo.
"Benkyou suru kiryoku ga nai", means I don't have the will/stamina to study.
The other day my flat mate wanted me to call out real estate agent for no good reason and when I said "I'll do it tomorrow" she retorted with "denwa suru kiryoku ga nai no? (don't you have the will/stamina/guts to call) " I took it as a bit of an insult.
Because kiryoku is often used in the negative like this using it in a tatoo might seem a little stange. When someone sees "kiryoku" they automatically associate it with "ga nai (don't have any)". I think it is more common in Japanese to say " kiryoku ga nai (I don't have any kiryoku)" than to say "Kiryoku ga aru" (I have kiryoku)".
Maybe there is a native Japanese speaker out there who would like to comment.
I was once asked by someone to recommend a good kanji tatoo, and when I asked around 闘魂 (http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/search.php?MT=%C6%AE%BA%B2&je.x=39&je.y=7&je=%CF%C2%B1%D1&kind=&mode=0) was suggested.
Maybe this would lessen the blatant stupidity of getting a tatoo that you don't actually understand.

[Nanbanjin]

Based on my meagre knowledge of the Japanese language, unless 気力 means something special in Chinese, I think your friend could have done better.
I think kiryoku is used too often in the negative to be used for a tatoo.
"Benkyou suru kiryoku ga nai", means I don't have the will/stamina to study.
The other day my flat mate wanted me to call out real estate agent for no good reason and when I said "I'll do it tomorrow" she retorted with "denwa suru kiryoku ga nai no? (don't you have the will/stamina/guts to call) " I took it as a bit of an insult.
Because kiryoku is often used in the negative like this using it in a tatoo might seem a little stange. When someone sees "kiryoku" they automatically associate it with "ga nai (don't have any)". I think it is more common in Japanese to say " I don't have any kiryoku" than to say "I have kiryoku".
Maybe there is a native Japanese speaker out there who would like to comment.
I was once asked by someone to recommend a good kanji tatoo, and when I asked around 闘魂 (http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/search.php?MT=%C6%AE%BA%B2&je.x=39&je.y=7&je=%CF%C2%B1%D1&kind=&mode=0) was suggested.
Maybe this would lessen the blatant stupidity of getting a tatoo that you don't actually understand.

Just to rub salt into the wound, the characters aren't very well written.

[emitbrownne]

Just to rub salt into the wound, the characters aren't very well written.
HE wrote them. The tattoo artist merely copied his design.

[Nanbanjin]

HE wrote them. The tattoo artist merely copied his design.
Impressive!

I asked a few Japanese people I know what they think.

I am always surprised that Japanese people are pretty forgiving about western people using kanji in tatoos. I tried to get a girl at work to agree that getting a tatoo you don't fully know the meaning of is silly, but she was adamant that choosing a tatoo simply because you thought it looked nice is fine.
Maybe I'm just being too precious.
The Japanese people I spoke with were a little unforgiving of badly written kanji though.

In my previous reply I suggested " 闘魂 " but the Japanese people I asked thought this was worse than your friend's tatoo. I think I might have been thinking of 根性 (http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/search.php?MT=%BA%AC%C0%AD&je.x=43&je.y=12&je=%CF%C2%B1%D1&kind=&mode=0)

Some Japanese people use kanji tatoo too. A girl from work has 辣 above her left breast. 辣 means "spicy" and she sure is!
Something subtle like this is probably best.

Traditionally Japanese are more likely to get tatoos of dragons, lions or carp, which are all symbols of strength.

http://www.horiiro.com/wk1004.jpg

[Neil Gendzwill]

Traditionally, getting a tattoo is a good way to alienate yourself with older, more traditional Japanese people like, oh, say, kendo sensei.

It's a stupid fad, IMNSHO.

[mingshi]

Traditionally, tattoo-ing with Chinese characters was one of the physical punishment for runaway soldiers.

Also, decorating tattoo all over your back with tigers and dragons are mostly associated with the Yakuza (or rebels, "tough guys" and anything similar).

[Nanbanjin]

Traditionally, tattoo-ing with Chinese characters was one of the physical punishment for runaway soldiers.

Is that for China or Japan?

I have read that tatooing of criminals was carried out in the fifth century in Japan and then made a comeback in the Edo period, but in both cases tatoos were a fairly popular fashion generally. In the earlier case simple tatoos were used around the eyes, maybe an adoption of Ainu culture? The tatoos of the Edo period were more like the colourful tatoos associated with Yakuza or "Ninkyou".
Yakuza only started using tatoos later in the Edo period. At that time they were also popular among tradespeople, merchants and soldiers. I read that the boom in the Edo period began with hand tatoos worn by lovers as a sign of devotion.

[Nanbanjin]

Traditionally, getting a tattoo is a good way to alienate yourself with older, more traditional Japanese people like, oh, say, kendo sensei.

It's a stupid fad, IMNSHO.
What does kendo have to do with it? This is a body art forum!