Chinese Characters for Tattoos | Step-by-Step Guide

Categories: Chinese

Chinese Characters for Tattoos | Step-by-Step Guide

Mar 4, 2025

Have you ever considered getting a tattoo in Chinese?

Before you commit to ink, let’s explore different types of Chinese characters for tattoos along with essential tips to help you make the best choice.

Chinese Characters for Tattoos

Tattoo in Chinese

Before diving into design ideas, let’s start with how to say “tattoo” in Chinese:

纹身
wénshēn
tattoo
lit. “mark-the-body”

刺青
cìqīng
tattoo

NOTE

纹身 (wénshēn) is the more commonly used and neutral term in modern Chinese, while 刺青 (cìqīng) has a more traditional feel.

Chinese Characters for Tattoos Guide

Now, let’s explore some inspiring Chinese character tattoo ideas.

Step 1: Choosing Your Tattoo

01. Single-Character Tattoos

A single Chinese character can be sleek, powerful, and packed with meaning. Here are some top picks:

爱 (ài) – love;
和 (hé) – harmony, peace;
力 (lì) – strength;
梦 (mèng) – dream;
福 (fú) – blessing, good fortune;
家 (jiā) – family, home.

02. Two-Character Tattoos

Short and impactful, these two-character phrases carry deep meaning:

自由 (zìyóu) – freedom;
信念 (xìnniàn) – belief, faith;
平安 (píng’ān) – peace and safety;
永恒 (yǒnghéng) – eternal, timeless.

03. Idioms

If you’re looking for a Chinese tattoo with deeper meaning, idioms (成语 chéngyǔ) and short phrases can be a great choice. Here are some inspiring options:

不忘初心 (bú wàng chūxīn) – never forget your original intention;
自强不息 (zìqiáng bùxī) – strive unceasingly;
一心一意 (yīxīn yíyì) – give one’s whole mind to something.

04. Get Your Zodiac Tattooed

Another cool option is to tattoo your Chinese zodiac sign (生肖 shēngxiào). Each zodiac animal represents different personality traits and symbolic meanings.

🤓 Find out your Chinese zodiac sign here.

Step 2: Avoid Common Mistakes

🚫 Bad Translations
Always double-check the meaning before tattooing. Many foreigners have unknowingly gotten random or incorrect characters.

🚫 Overly Complex Characters
Some Chinese characters are intricate, making them difficult to tattoo cleanly. If a character has too many strokes, consider a simpler alternative.

🚫 Cultural Sensitivity
Be mindful of cultural meanings. Some characters have different connotations in Chinese than in Western culture. For example:

👻 鬼 guǐ ∙ ghost (often associated with bad luck in China)

✅ Make Sure the Characters are Facing the Right Way
We’ve seen quite a few unfortunate cases where Chinese characters ended up mirrored. If you’re getting a tattoo from a non-Chinese artist, make sure to guide them on how to place the characters properly.

(Ideally) Confirm Your Design with a Native Speaker
If you’ve come up with a design yourself, it’s always a good idea to confirm the translation with a native Chinese speaker. Chinese is a complex language, and phrases can have subtle (and often surprising) meanings. It’s better to catch any mistakes before it’s on your body.