Don't Make These Chinese Symbol Tattoo Mistakes

The Chinese people have a highly developed writing system that evolved at least 3000 years ago. Ancient writing has been found written on bone, brass vessels or pottery and bamboo strips.

The Chinese writing system has no alphabet, but relies on a large number of symbols that represents spoken concepts or ideas. It is important to note that a Chinese symbol is NOT a pictograph but represents the entire spoken word.

And don't even look for the Chinese alphabet because there isn't one. The alphabet is a Latin invention, which is a whole new can of worms.

The Kangxi Dictionary was created in 1710 A.D. by imperial decree to compile 47,035 symbols. Don't worry; the average Chinese person only needs to know five thousand symbols to pretty much read anything that is written in the Chinese language.

Now, let's talk about mistakes which is the biggest block when someone thinks about getting a Chinese symbol tattoo. What you think the Chinese symbol tattoo means, may not be necessarily so.

As you can imagine, before rushing off to get the Chinese symbols tattooed on your skin - DOUBLE CHECK with someone who CAN read and understand Chinese. And resist the urge to pull over the Chinese waiter and ask him to write out the Chinese symbol for you. He may not know exactly what meaning you really want and may unintentionally give you the wrong symbol.

You see, Chinese symbols are complex and can easily be mean something other than intended. Get the wrong one... and your new tattoo will be a permanent source of embarrassment to you!

Another fact is that Chinese Calligraphy is a precise art and sometimes strokes can be missing in your tattoo design. But don't panic! Your tattoo artist can easily fix those mistakes.

However, be warned that the artistic flair of your tattoo artist can turn your Chinese characters into gibberish.

Another thing, Chinese names are written in the reversed order. Which mean your last name goes before your first.

Let me pause here for just a minute... this is where things may get a little more complicated. Because your name is probably foreign to the Chinese language -- Chinese symbols will have to be picked out to pronounce your name. Remember there are no Chinese alphabets. So you will have to pick out one or more Chinese symbols that represent your spoken name.

Do you see what I mean? Getting a Chinese symbol tattoo can become a nightmare if done hurriedly without any thoughts whatsoever!

Nonetheless, Chinese symbol tattoos are very popular today because they are really beautiful. And because most of us in the Western Hemisphere cannot read Chinese, Chinese symbol tattoos becomes an exotic form of expression.

And let's face the fact that the real reason most guys probably want a Chinese symbols tattoo is because they are usually associated with martial arts or karate flicks. Men!
About the Author

Becky McClure believes that the MOST important word after you made the decision to get inked is Patience! Pick the right tattoo design. Pick the right location on you. And then pick the best artist you can find for your new body art.

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Where to Put Your Tattoo Choosing the Perfect Position for Your New Tattoo

Millions of people, in recent years, have tuned into the very special art of tattooing as a way to have something of permanent meaning placed on their bodies. You?re one of them, and you think having a tattoo would be absolutely mind-blowing, but you just don?t know enough about what kind of tattoo to get, or even more importantly, which part of your body you want tattooed.

The first thing you should decide is whether you want a tattoo that can be hidden. It depends largely on your own personality. If you approach the world with an ?in-your-face? attitude, you may want a tattoo positioned so that will be visible most of the time.

On the other hand, if you are somewhat shy or just like to keep secrets, having a tattoo on a place you normally keep covered may make you feel unique, and even a little sexy.

And keep in mind that a tattoo which seems perfect to you when you are in your twenties may leave you asking ?What was I thinking?? in later years. So don?t commit to a first tattoo positioned where you will be forced to look at it every day for the rest of your life.

Think about your social life. If it calls for you to attend very many upscale events, and you are female, are you going to want your tattoo visible when you wear a strapless dress?

But even if you are aristocracy, you can still can manage a tattoo. Lady Churchill sported a wrist tattoo which she simply covered with a diamond bracelet on state occasions!

Will having a plainly visible tattoo cause friction between you and someone close? For example, would you husband or wife see your tattoo as a come-on to others? If so, put it where it will be a secret for just the two of you.

Then there?s the work situation. Will your current or potential employer be OK with you sporting a visible tattoo? Many of them aren?t.

And then there?s the problem of weight gain or loss. The odds are strong that you will not remain at the identical weight you are the day you get your tattoo. And even if you do, the human body has an unfortunate tendency to reshape itself during middle age. A tattoo which looks great on the flat stomach of your 20s may be an embarrassment when you get middle-aged spread.

The same holds if you lose weight after your tattoo is in place. Your skin may become loose; how will that affect your tattoo?

You should also consider your pain threshold when deciding where to place your tattoo. The most painful tattooing occurs on designs close to the bone, like shins, elbows, and knees. If you are someone who breaks into a clod sweat at the thought of going to the dentist, you should probably limit you choice of tattoo locations to the more padded areas of your anatomy.

But once you?ve sorted through all the tattoo positioning pitfalls, you can get some visualization help at http://www.bmezine.com. They have several pages with photographs of recently completed tattoos which will give you a much clearer picture of how you might end up looking. The photos cover everything from foot and ankle to breast and collar bone designs of every possible size and intricacy.

Where you position your tattoo says nearly as much about you as your tattoo itself. So be sure to choose a spot which will let you enjoy your tattoo for the rest of your life!

Author: Matt Garrett - ? 2007 http://www.TopTattooDesign.Com

Discover how to avoid being the one in four who Hate thier new Tattoo, including simple Tattoo safety tips, in our your free Tattoo Guide : -

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Is The Tattoo Artist's Skill Underestimated?

Not just anyone can become a tattoo artist. It takes many hours of skill and practice to master this craft. On any given day, a tattoo artist may have many different requests to accomplish; some may be small and simple, others may be very detailed and intricate to produce. The scope of tattoos could range from something as simple as a cherry blossom or as large as a representation of New York City and everything in between.

Not only must a tattoo artist be excellent at drawing or tracing many amazing designs of tattoos, but many times the customer will come in with a tattoo design and want the tattoo artist to the customer?s idea or spin on it. By taking the idea of the customer, the tattoo artist must try their best to bring the customer?s idea to life. The tattoo artist must be able to relate to the customer, understand the customer?s request and be creative enough to materialize the idea. Some customers may come in with no specific tattoo design, just the idea of what they want the tattoo to represent, and leave it up to the artist to create the kind of tattoo they are requesting. That takes talent and creativity.

An artist has a blank canvas to work with and they can create many beautiful works of art. The tattoo artist, however, may be asked to tattoo anything from a bald head, elbow, or even a knee as part of the tattoo. Some tattoos may start on the back, or shoulder and go around the body to the front of the chest. Other tattoos may be larger in picture and need to be cut down, completely resizing the picture or symbol to fit the customer?s body, much like a pattern, while keeping the symbol or design completely in tact. They may have to free hand the entire picture or symbol over again. This could be quite a difficult task for the average Joe.

Obviously, without satisfied customers, the tattoo artist would have no business. Since tattoos are usually done to represent a special meaning to the customer, the tattoo artist needs to be able to be able to relate to people,giving them the kind of design or symbol their customers want and provide good customer service. If the tattoo artist doesn?t seem to be too interested in what you have to say he or she might have their own idea about how they want to do your tattoo and you could be sorely disappointed. It may even be worth it to travel to another city to have a tattoo done if you have found a great tattoo artist. Remember, a tattoo is a permanent mark on your body and can be very expensive to remove.

If you are into tattoos and have found a the perfect tattoo artist, you are fortunate. Let them know they are appreciated. These skills are not easily acquired by just anyone. Always make sure the tattoo artist is using sterile equipment and understands your request before you get your tattoo. By doing this, you could have a great tattoo to enjoy for a lifetime.

Cathy lives in Salt Lake City and is a free lance writer.

For more information about tattoos click here:http://tattoos4us.blogspot.com

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Tattoo Designs A World Wide Trend

 



Tattoo Designs - A World Wide TrendSubmitted By: Madonna Jeffries  

Have you noticed that it seems that every second person these days is proudly showing their tattoos. You have the traditional older guys who have been wearing tattoos for ages as well as young women and men who have just started on their ?tattoo collection?. The trend seems to be growing so rapidly that new Tattoo Parlours are opening up almost on a daily basis. It would be fair to say that today tattoos are more popular than during the Second World War years when tattoos became the fashion amongst the armed services.

While it is just great seeing so many people wearing tattoos, particularly the young tattoo devotees, it is important that the potential wearer gives the subject some serious thought. It is imperative that if you are considering getting a tattoo that you take your time and put some serious thought into which tattoo design you are going to choose and, importantly, where you intend to put the tattoo.

A tattoo will become a permanent feature on your body so you must make absolutely sure that you choose tattoo designs that are going to look good and suit your own particular lifestyle and beliefs. You are going to have to be satisfied with your design and not get bored with it in the future.

Where Do You Source Tattoo Ideas?

There are simply so many different tattoo design options available that it would be impossible to catalog every one. You can either choose to go with one that has already been created, or you can literally start from scratch and design your very own tattoo. The majority of tattoo studios even allow you to work one-on-one with the tattoo artist so that together you can create the perfect design for you.

In my opinion creating your own individual design is the best option because what you end up having etched on your body will be personalized with a particular significance and meaning to you. You will also be less likely to tire of it in the future compared to a tattoo that has no particular significance other than you thought it was ?cool? when you had the tattoo done.

If, however, you are more interested in finding a design that has already been created, then you have unlimited options as there are literally tens of thousands of fantastic websites that you can visit and browse through their galleries until you find a tattoo design that you fall in love with.

One top website devoted to creative tattoo designs is Tattoo Johnny. Their gallery feature some of the world?s most popular and inspiring designs. One of the best features of Tattoo Johnny?s website is it allows you to pay for your chosen designs and print them off in full size. You can then head off to your local tattoo studio where they can use that exact print to produce your tattoo. This means that you will be getting exactly what you want and know what it is going to look like before you even venture into the tattoo studio.

Another brilliant online tattoo shop is the Bullseye Tattoo Company. They are universally regarded as having an incredibly large and varied selection of tattoo designs available for purchase and download. Again you can visit their website where you can browse through literally thousands of original tattoo designs from a compilation of different well known and creative artists and then buy and print off the ones that you like best.

So if you are looking to get a tattoo please think long and hard about the tattoo design you want and a word of warning, never get a tattoo unless you are one hundred percent sure that you will love your chosen one forever.

Article Tags: design, designs, tattoo

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Your Guide for Choosing the Perfect Tattoo Design

Do you fancy yourself a 9 to 5 rebel with a hidden inked secret? A punk? A devoted parent in body and mind? A person with strong spiritual beliefs that you wish to proudly display? Your body is a canvas - your canvas to alter as you wish. You want to make a good decision. A design that you will proudly display (or keep as a wonderfully intimate secret) for years to come! Our special guide helps you choose a design that will rock your world, now and in the future. Let's find your tattoo design! Where Should I Get My Design?The place you decide to tattoo yourself has a big impact! You need to consider whether your choice of design/spot will help or hinder your cause. If you work in a nursery, a topless woman on your forearm may get you fired. Unfortunately, some employers are still bothered by visible tattoos on their staff, especially in conservative industries. Have a good think about your work prospects and whether you'll be willing to cover this tattoo, especially in summer to remain employed. Also consider whether you may miss out on certain employment opportunities because of your design. Gain with less PainHow painful you are willing for the inking process to be. Fatty areas on your body will be the least painful while areas that are boney will hurt the most. The most painful areas are the abdomen, spine and chest for men and the ankle, spine and ribcage for women. Women will find a tattoo on their abdomen, buttocks, thigh and shoulder less painful whilst men will find a tattoo on their buttocks, arm or back less painful.

For tattoo novices, especially tattoo virgins, keeping this in mind may make the process easier for you! What Design Should I Get?Okay, I know you probably have some idea what you want. But how much do you want it? Tattoos are a long-term commitment, a forever commitment! Classic vs. TrendyTattoos are a fashion statement but shouldn't be trendy. They should be more classic designer than high street. Your favourite band today may make you cringe 10 years from now. Think back. If a similar themed design 10 years ago would make you regret having it now, don't get it. The Name of The GameGetting the name of your lover may seem like a passionate way to proclaim forever but just look at Angelina Jolie. Her love for Billy Bob didn't last and she forked out for tattoo removal. Removal and alteration of tattoos is expensive and TIME CONSUMING, with a capital T. Helpful HennaYou may wish to get a temporary or henna tattoo of your design first to get a feel for the tattooed you! In addition to getting a sense of what it will look like once you take the plunge, you'll be able to get a sense of how the artist works and the way they will interpret your design. What a Character!A word of caution involving those omnipresent oriental characters... Make sure you have verified the meaning of the character outside of the tattoo parlour! Many characters have double meanings or are wrongly represented. You do not want to find out in your Gap Year break to Hong Kong that you actually have the word for sewage on your arm! Colour My WorldIn choosing a colour, realise that black tattoos will fade less and brighter colours will fade more but will be more bold and striking. Using bright white is never a good idea and should be avoided. Once you have gotten your tattoo, using a good SPF will protect your tattoo from fading in the sun. Most tattoos will eventually need to be touched up but taking steps to prevent this will help your tattoo remain bright. How Can I Get The Best Design?Your tattoo can be everything you'd hoped it would be. By doing your research, you can secure the best design possible, with the best person at the best price. Look AroundA general rule of thumb is to look around at different designs. The designs your tattoo parlour has on file are the tip of the iceberg. There a loads of designs available online and in tattoo magazines. There are television programmes that focus on tattooing as well, notably Miami and London Ink. Customise itAdditionally, you can find an illustration from a non tattoo-centric publication as well and have a custom image drawn for you. The limit is only in your mind. Copying someone else's design is impersonal and also not good for tattoo etiquette. It is one thing to see the tattoo in your tattoo parlour's book of designs (those designs are intended to be replicated) but to take the exact image from the web or a magazine is stealing and terribly uncreative. Make some changes to the design and call it your own! Your Tattooist Inks The DealThe right tattooist to do the job is someone who sees your vision and has a portfolio that demonstrates ability in that style. Ask a prospective tattooist to draw a design for you based on your preferences and hold it against your skin or ask for the henna option I mentioned earlier to see if the tattoo is right for you before agreeing to have the work done. References from friends are always helpful, as is doing your homework to find out what is a competitive price. The artist's patience and manner is very important. Trust your instincts. Choosing a tattoo design is a journey not to be taken lightly. However, with a little bit of planning, you'll be happily inked for years to come! Have fun!

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Women Tattoo Design Ideas The Flower Tattoo and the Butterfly Tattoo

Tattoos have emerged as very acceptable now a days. Getting a tattoo is a very serious decision as it will be will be with you forever. Before venturing off to the nearest tattoo parlor, consider a couple of tattoo design ideas for the perfect tattoo for a woman. How about the flower tattoo or the butterfly tattoo? Keep reading...The Flower TattooA flower tattoo is one of the most popular amongst women for a tattoo design. A flower tattoo is very timeless as well as feminine making it ideal for women. With all the different choices of a flower tattoo, which would be best for you? Consider if you want your tattoo design to really stand out or not and placement. A flower tattoo such as the growing popular hibiscus flower is usually inked with vibrant colors. A flower tattoo such as the hibiscus uses bright hues in the tattoo design such as magenta, pink, and aqua colors. A classic flower tattoo would be the rose. A rose tattoo design usually consists of dark green and a dark red for its colors. However, with a rose tattoo, the tattoo design can be made to stand out by using lighter colors to bring out the contrast; thus, making the flower tattoo more noticeable or it can be less noticeable by sticking to darker colors. Another great idea for a flower tattoo would be a cluster of flower tattoo designs surrounded by green ivy. This also works very well with lilies and hibiscus flowers. How about getting a calla lily for your tattoo design? Calla lilies are very beautiful and would be elegant in lighter colors such as pink, light purple, and light yellow

A flower tattoo is pretty versatile when it comes to placement of a tattoo design. A flower tattoo can be placed anywhere on the body and it generally will look very nice. Some popular places to put a floral tattoo design are: the back of the neck, the lower back, the ankle, in various places on the foot, and the wrist. Where to find flower tattoo design pictures? Click this link for EveryTattoo. This site has plenty of tattoo design pictures that you can print off and take to your tattoo parlor of choice. If you need more ideas then go to Yahoo Images and type in "flower tattoo" and you will find hundreds of other ideas.The Butterfly TattooButterflies are also another beautiful idea for a tattoo design for women. A butterfly tattoo offers so many options such as layout, size, and colors. A butterfly tattoo can be inked as if the butterfly is in flight, lying flat, or resting. The choice of the tattoo design is endless. A butterfly tattoo can be virtually any colors you choose. If you are considering a tattoo design that consists of a butterfly then why not have the inside inked with your favorite color? If you are a girly girl and want a butterfly then an aqua or a pretty magenta would be a nice choice for the tattoo design.A butterfly tattoo is just like a flower tattoo is regards to versatile placement. The tattoo design can also be placed on the back of the neck, ankle, foot, lower back, and it would even look appropriate on a hip or lower stomach. Ideas for a beautiful butterfly tattoo can be found by clicking here at: TattooJoy. You can also go to Yahoo Images for butterfly tattoos by clicking here and then typing in "butterfly tattoo." There is also an array of tattoo design images there.Mix The Butterfly Tattoo With The Flower TattooYou could also go a little crazy and combine the flower tattoo with the butterfly tattoo. A tattoo design of the mixture would be of a butterfly either flying around the flower or resting on the flower. The placement for this tattoo design could be on the shoulder blade or even the lower back. Good luck with your tattoo! Just remember to follow what the tattoo artist says in care of the tattoo. The colors can fade without proper care and the site of the tattoo design can get infected. By JaymeLee23

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Star Tattoo Design Resources

If you're looking to get a tattoo, you know that this is no small thing. You might spend days and possibly weeks trying to find the best design for you. If you're like me, and enjoy star tattoo designs, you know that while there might be only one shape, you still have a variety of star tattoo design options. If you're looking for the perfect star tattoo design, then keep reading. You're sure to find something that will appeal to you, making that quest for your star tattoo even closer. Before You Get Your TattooBefore you pick out your star, there are going to be a few things that you will want to consider, such as placement of your star tattoo. Placement of your star tattoo can effect the sizing of it as well. It might also effect the coloring that you choose, as not to be seen by others easily. You're also going to want to check out the potential tattoo shops in your area. Get some feedback on the tattoo shop, especially if this is your first tattoo. This is essential to your health and well-being. Mostly importantly, if this will be your first time getting a tattoo, always remember that you are in control, not the tattoo artist. If the artist wants to try and change your view of what you want your star tattoo to look like, then get out of there quickly. You're going to be the one wearing this star tattoo for the rest of your life, so what you say goes. Don't be afraid to ever stand up for yourself.

Star Tattoo Design ResourcesThere are several different options for star design tattoos. You have the shooting star design, the religious star designs, such as the Star of David, single stars, nautical stars, and many more star tattoo designs to choose from. When I was looking for the perfect star tattoo design for me, I looked at other tattoo shop websites. Most of them have categories of different types of tattoos, and while I was looking for something unique, I found the style that appealed most to me. Evil Tattoo - Star Tattoo Gallery - This has tons of pages dedicated to strictly star tattoo designs. You can see the different places and the wide variety of star tattoo designs that people have received. It is really neat to check out because it gives you a great tool in helping you find the perfect style and design of star tattoo that you want. Rank My Tattoo - Again, this is another site which allows you to rank users star tattoos, but you can really just go through and browse and see other people's choices when it came to getting a star tattoo. From there you can get a good idea of what you would like and when it comes to getting your tattoo, you can just customize with the coloring and placement of your choosing. Google Images - Well, if you're looking just for a plain star picture, then why not check out google's image feature? Start off by looking up star clip art or even type in star tattoo and see what comes up. It could be something that simple and easy which leads you to your perfect star tattoo design.Tattoo Johnny - This is going to be your biggest resource of star tattoo design ideas. However, if you find something that you like, you're going to have to pay to get it. Tattoo Johnny offers you the flash style printables of any star tattoo design of your choosing. There's a large amount of different star tattoo designs for you to pick from. Check Out My Ink - Yet another tattoo ranking site, but it seems to have a different variety of star tattoo designs ideas. Just about every star tattoo idea, from the regular outline of a star, to shooting stars, and nautical stars can all be found here, in a variety of different sizes, places, and colors. If you really cannot find a star tattoo design that you like here, then you might not ever find a star tattoo design that you like ever.Tattoos Gallery - This has a resource of everywhere that you could possibly think of putting a star tattoo and sorts them accordingly. It's truly just a random collaboration of different star tattoo design ideas, but there is so much there to choose from.From basic star and moon tattoos, to cute little shooting stars on your foot, there is something for everyone available here. And the best part about the site is that it is free. If you see something you like, you can just print it out and take it over to your local tattoo shop where you plan on getting your work done and the two of you can go from there. Looking for tattoo design ideas can really be challenging. With the availability of everything on the Internet, there really is no central resource for free star tattoo design ideas. Hopefully in your quest to get that perfect star tattoo, I hope you can find something useful in these sites that I have listed above. Make sure that when you do get your star tattoo that you ask questions about the aftercare of your tattoo, as this is vital to ensure that you have a long-lasting star tattoo to share with with the world. By Carly Kullman

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Finding the Right Angel Tattoo Design Online

Assuming that you have selected the angel tattoo as your first or next tattoo, now the most difficult part begins. How to find the lots of angel tattoo sketches? Finding the extraordinary sketches of angel tattoo design is not easy. Your best bet is internet. Internet is very powerful medium if used properly. Easiest way to find the angel tattoo design is using the search engine like Yahoo, Google, MSN etc. Writing the common term like "angel tattoo design" or "free angel tattoo design" in search box of any search engine will reveal millions of websites. If you have time and patience then open each one and find out whether they have your dream angel tattoo design. There is one easy way to find your dream angel tattoo design online for people like me. Instead of wasting your time on browsing lots of website that offers free designs, if you become the member of tattoo design gallery then you not only save your time but in the long run you will save money too.

Finding the good membership site is not easy. Since, it is not possible to see the sketches of membership site unless you become the member. My advice is before spending any money on any membership site you must read review of it. Since there are many tattoo design membership sites that are outright scam. Another way to find good angel tattoo design on line is to post the question in to the general forums like yahoo answers or particular tattoo forums. It is always good to know how others find their tattoo design. You can also browse the archives of these forums to find many reviews and information regarding angel tattoo designs. I have found unbiased reviews of tattoo design membership site where they have compiled more than 10 different membership site reviews. You can find these reviews at http://www.tattoodesign101.com/review.htm By Ajay Charvak,

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