Kanji Tattoo

[Lipp]

Well, sort of had it in the back of my mind to get a tattoo someday, and as I don't like the flashy pictures and want one that I won't regret having in the future I'm aiming for a kanji tattoo.

However, as with any different language it's confusing me a bit, especially as the chinese simplified/chinese traditional/japanese characters seem to overlap here and there, so looking for input from pretty much everywhere to make sure that I don't make an embarassing mistake. So in case we got any asians or tattoo enthusiasts around here it's worth a shot, or perhaps kanji tattoos are way overrated.

At the moment I'm aiming for the symbol for "life" - Inochi - 命



But it's being a bit strange as first it is the 2006 "symbol of the year" in Japan, so its japanese meaning is apparently about that life is worth keeping (it was chosen to act against the increased amount of suicides occurring), but I also had a friend who said it's her family name in chinese and I have yet to ask what it means in chinese, and also "life" seems to have a different character to display it as well -



So the first one is definitely the one I'm aiming for, firstly artistically it looks like a house (doing architecture, so can't say no to that), secondly I want it as a reminder that you only have one life and should make the best of it, thirdly I use the english expression "life" as a way to shrug off bad luck or difficulties in a similar way to "joss" (hong kong) or "karma" (japan), and fourthly I'm mainly hanging out with the asian crowd around here, aussies don't interest me much. Thinking of it, the upside-down view of it is a bit annoying if you see it as a hand with fingers But oh well. Does anyone know what the literal meaning of the character would be?

So yeah, any constructive input is appreciated.

[misombra]

don't do it!

[Lipp]

don't do it!

But why?

[misombra]

because the regret is hard to handle believe me. i have tattoos and i wish they would disappear. though at the time i thought it was the best decision ever.

[Kiechi]

To be honest, Japanese tattoos are kinda' tacky and overdone... I wouldn't do it.

[ecojeanne]

get something that means something....i have a small redback spider on my hip...i was in Australia at the time....i'll never regret it!

[LadieNisha4u2nv]

get something that means something....i have a small redback spider on my hip...i was in Australia at the time....i'll never regret it!

Didnt you just make an "Are you afraid of Spiders?" thread? lol

[Kiechi]

Didnt you just make an "Are you afraid of Spiders?" thread? lol

Hahahaha! Good point.

[ecojeanne]

i'm not afraid of spiders :O hehe...

[Junket]

Asian tattoos are so gay.

[Lipp]

get something that means something....i have a small redback spider on my hip...i was in Australia at the time....i'll never regret it!

And a redback spider means....?

[ecojeanne]

And a redback spider means....?

i'm cool and a rebel j/k it represents a phase in my life that i went wild...the redback representing Australia and the good times....and that i'm tough .....don't mess with me hehe

[starbuck]

Who cares if they're trendy or not trendy or whatever. If it means something to you, Lipp, that's all that matters.

I got mine this year, and have no regrets so far. I also put it in a hideable spot, just in case I need to "clean up well." I also waited until my thirties to get mine, to make sure I wasn't being too impulsive.

[shh!]

I like natural skin.

[Charlie Boy II]

Japanese tatoos are like so 1990s.