I think I may be being tricked into a bad tattoo idea

[Mike Cash]

"Kana" is a collective way of referring to both hiragana and katakana without having to say "hiragana and katakana" (a mouthful!) every time.

 

[Billy Hann]

"Kana" is a collective way of referring to both hiragana and katakana without having to say "hiragana and katakana" (a mouthful!) every time.

Not sure where I may have confused you with this. What I meant was combinations of kanji and kana, I understand what kana is, I may have just typed more than I should have and gave you the wrong impression. Thank you though.

Personally, if I were in your shoes I'd forget any conjugation of ganbaru, whether kanji or kana, and go with something like 忍耐 or 辛抱. Probably 忍耐. Not only does it make a better and more appropriate tattoo, you have the kewlness of using one of the same kanji as in 忍者 (ninja).

Could you and/or some other members elaborate on "忍耐" and considering it's kanji wouldn't having this written from top to bottom make it technically hard for some native people to read? Or would it still be "appropriate" to have it read from top to bottom as in traditional writing style. Because as I understand modern Japanese is written in a more European format correct? I could be 100% wrong on that one.

 

[Mike Cash]

From this:

a combination of kanji and hiragana, kanji and katakana, or kanji and kana

But so long as you're clear on it, no problem.

There is no difficulty in reading Japanese vertically.

 

[Billy Hann]

From this:

a combination of kanji and hiragana, kanji and katakana, or kanji and kana

But so long as you're clear on it, no problem.

I see, yeah kanji and kana was a wrong choice of words. Especially after already stating hiragana and katakana.

 

[nahadef]

She specifically said putting any kana in a tattoo was strange. And recommended 忍耐 instead. It means perseverance.

 

[Billy Hann]

She specifically said putting any kana in a tattoo was strange. And recommended 忍耐 instead. It means perseverance.

I'm not sure what you're quoting here, I'll repost my original question

Could you and/or some other members elaborate on "忍耐" and considering it's kanji wouldn't having this written from top to bottom make it technically hard for some native people to read? Or would it still be "appropriate" to have it read from top to bottom as in traditional writing style. Because as I understand modern Japanese is written in a more European format correct? I could be 100% wrong on that one.

I didn't mention kana in there? I just wanted to know some more information about what 忍耐 means. And also if it could be written from top to bottom like this

忍
耐

and still convey the same message.

I now know what it means but I don't know if it can be written from top to bottom, so thanks for your answer to the perseverance part though.

I'm not sure what you're quoting here, I'll repost my original question

Could you and/or some other members elaborate on "忍耐" and considering it's kanji wouldn't having this written from top to bottom make it technically hard for some native people to read? Or would it still be "appropriate" to have it read from top to bottom as in traditional writing style. Because as I understand modern Japanese is written in a more European format correct? I could be 100% wrong on that one.

I didn't mention kana in there? I just wanted to know some more information about what 忍耐 means. And also if it could be written from top to bottom like this

忍
耐

and still convey the same message.

I now know what it means but I don't know if it can be written from top to bottom, so thanks for your answer to the perseverance part though.

also, the names of those 2 kanji would be greatly appreciated, in romaji i mean, so I have a better chance of finding a high resolution picture of them

EDIT: I know collectively it is Nintai. so the first is Nin? and second is Tai?

 

[Mike Cash]

Yes, it can be written top to bottom with no effect on the meaning or the readability. Vertical writing is still very common in Japanese. Practically all newspapers and books are written top to bottom.

忍
耐

 

[Billy Hann]

Yes, it can be written top to bottom with no effect on the meaning or the readability. Vertical writing is still very common in Japanese. Practically all newspapers and books are written top to bottom.

忍
耐

Thank you. Is there a section on this forum where I can possibly get hi res photos or links to Kanji. Google is not always my friend...

 

[Mark of Zorro]

I really recommend you read and listen to stories like this to keep you motivated rather than getting ink. If you get this "がんばる" tattoo, it will be the number one deterrent in ever dating a girl here. They will be too busy snickering to take you seriously. You're going to have to be very, very handsome to get away with something as silly as that permanently etched on your body.

I don't think the choice of word is near as bad as the choice of having a plain katakana and/or kanji tattoo. There are things we foreigners can do differently than Japanese males and still get a girl, but that is simply not one of them. I once had an all white pull over sweater with a red circle on the front and 日本 written on it. It was a nice sweater. It was very simple and far less loud than your average shirt with American flags on it and such. I thought that would be passable even here, and I had some awareness about issues with the flag etc. Nope. Nobody liked it. They laughed at me.

A really funny story was that of a girl who lived next door to my grandmother. She got 愛 or something tattooed on her stomach. Then she started to get doubts about if it really meant love. She was asking me, when her sister blurted out they all thought it means love. I said yes, indeed, that was love. But she would not believe me, since her sister let the cat out of the bag before I confirmed it. So she lived on in doubt. Its worse than a bad haircut, and how does that help you がんばれ？

My advice: Get a picture tattoo that is both cool and reminds you to study. I have no idea what that would be though.

I hear ganbaru quite a bit.

Me too. But I lean toward def's opinion. My thinking is that its a little too vague and in vague way more than any English translation would be. Probably the best translation I can think of is "to persevere", but even that does not quite capture how vague it is. Japanese and English both depend on context, but the way context is demanded there is special.

Edit: I see I missed a page. Oh well. The all kanji is definitely better, but I still don't recommend it for anyone who has any interest in hooking up with a Japanese woman. A picture or original piece of foreign culture would be better (even having a MOM tattoo). No ink is best though.

Another word of advice. If and when you come to Japan, you will have trouble going into pools and gyms because of the ink. I am not kidding you. You may well be asked to leave if anyone sees it.

Considering that, a ring or necklace could probably be ordered made with the kanji you want on it. Same effect and it comes right off. Probably the same price too.

 

[Billy Hann]

I don't think the choice of word is near as bad as the choice of having a plain katakana and/or kanji tattoo. There are things we foreigners can do differently than Japanese males and still get a girl, but that is simply not one of them. I once had an all white pull over sweater with a red circle on the front and 日本 written on it. It was a nice sweater. It was very simple and far less loud than your average shirt with American flags on it and such. I thought that would be passable even here, and I had some awareness about issues with the flag etc. Nope. Nobody liked it. They laughed at me.

A really funny story was that of a girl who lived next door to my grandmother. She got 愛 or something tattooed on her stomach. Then she started to get doubts about if it really meant love. She was asking me, when her sister blurted out they all thought it means love. I said yes, indeed, that was love. But she would not believe me, since her sister let the cat out of the bag before I confirmed it. So she lived on in doubt. Its worse than a bad haircut, and how does that help you がんばれ？

My advice: Get a picture tattoo that is both cool and reminds you to study. I have no idea what that would be though.



Me too. But I lean toward def's opinion. My thinking is that its a little too vague and in vague way more than any English translation would be. Probably the best translation I can think of is "to persevere", but even that does not quite capture how vague it is. Japanese and English both depend on context, but the way context is demanded there is special.

Edit: I see I missed a page. Oh well. The all kanji is definitely better, but I still don't recommend it for anyone who has any interest in hooking up with a Japanese woman. A picture or original piece of foreign culture would be better (even having a MOM tattoo). No ink is best though.

Another word of advice. If and when you come to Japan, you will have trouble going into pools and gyms because of the ink. I am not kidding you. You may well be asked to leave if anyone sees it.

Considering that, a ring or necklace could probably be ordered made with the kanji you want on it. Same effect and it comes right off. Probably the same price too.

I'm ok only spending time in places in japan where a lack of clothing is not required. Also, if I am asked to leave somewhere because of ink, I will politely stand up, apologize, and leave. And it seems like people think I have interest in hooking up with a Japanese woman. I have a Canadian girlfriend who I am perfectly pleased with and if it doesn't work out I'll get another white girlfriend. I understand manners are VERY important in Japan. Which is why Japanese people generally express respect with manners rather than words. As will I if someone has an issue with my tattoo. Thanks for sharing though I appreciate it. Ive decided to go with Nintai in Kanji and possibly get a semi tribal dragon, believe it or not the dragon isn't anything to do with the motivational tattoo, I just saw a dragon that I liked, and my tattoo artist is ranked in the top 5 in Canada for portraits.

 

[nahadef]

I have a Canadian girlfriend who I am perfectly pleased with and if it doesn't work out I'll get another white girlfriend.

If you move to Japan, that's not really a choice. You can date one of the fifty or so in your city (I think I've maybe met 100 white women in 10 years here), or you can date one of the hundreds of thousands of Japanese women here.... There is so much you haven't out about this "Love of Japan" thing...

 

[Mike Cash]

I know it was easy for it to get lost in the shuffle, but have you researched your eligibility for a visa to come here to live, Billy? Japan is notoriously restrictive. You can't just move here because you want to; it has to serve the needs of Japan in general or a Japanese employer in particular, broadly speaking. If every anime fan who wanted to move to Japan actually showed up, the Japanese would all have to leave the country in order to make room for them.