Passion Tattoo

[JasonDesu]

I'm sure this question has been asked for other words. but i didn't see this word asked in the archives. I want to really get two tattoos. One on my left shoulder blade that says "Romance (恋)" and one on my right shoulder blade that says "Love (愛)." When these too kanji are read together its my understanding that they mean passion. Is this correct? Also I need to find a good image or font of these characters so that I can show the tattoo artist. I want it to look like it was handwritten on my back in a cursive format of calligraphy and not as fixed as standard type.

thanks for any help. obviously i don't want to get the wrong thing tattooed on my back lol

 

[cacawate]

And if the person you go to has done plenty of Japanese tattoos before you can be sure they'll have fonts. If not, don't get it from them.

 

[nice gaijin]

tough question... are you really sure you want a kanji tattoo?

恋 is kind of like infatuation, it can also refer to love with a purpose (they're tall, rich or smart etc)
愛 is the kind of love you grow into, more like unconditional love
恋愛 is like the kind of love married people (ideally) have.

all three translate into "love"

恋は心が下にあるから、下心と言う意味です。でも愛は心が真ん中にあるから、真心です！- from a japanese friend when asked what the difference was.

 

[JasonDesu]

And if the person you go to has done plenty of Japanese tattoos before you can be sure they'll have fonts. If not, don't get it from them.

dang! 303 versions; well thank you very much hehe

I'll check those out and see if i like any of those better. Do you know if my original 恋愛 with one on each back shoulder blade would make since though? I still have to decide if i just want a couple of kanji tattooed or if i would like a string of many characters (like several in the link you supplied).

arigatō gozaimasu

 

[cacawate]

If this is what you want, then yes it'll make sense.

 

[sasame]

One on my left shoulderblade that says "Romance (恋)" and one on my right shoulderblade that says "Love (愛)."

Do you make word of "恋愛" a tattoo?
あなたは「恋愛」という単語を刺青にするのですか？

If the word of "恋愛" was on my lover's back, I will burst out laughing.
私の彼氏の背中に「恋愛」の文字があったなら、私は大爆笑するでしょう。

 

[nice gaijin]

Do you make word of "恋愛" a tattoo?
あなたは「恋愛」という単語を刺青にするのですか？

If the word of "恋愛" was on my lover's back, I will burst out laughing.
私の彼氏の背中に「恋愛」の文字があったなら、私は大爆笑するでしょう。

３９．ささめさんに同感してる。

 

[JasonDesu]

Do you make word of "恋愛" a tattoo?
あなたは「恋愛」という単語を刺青にするのですか？

If the word of "恋愛" was on my lover's back, I will burst out laughing.
私の彼氏の背中に「恋愛」の文字があったなら、私は大爆笑するでしょう。

Can you tell me why? I don't understand obviously hehe. But I was thinking that passion is a good thing, not just for passion for another person but for passion in life. Passion for everything I do. If I could get a tattoo symbolizing that in kanji then I would. But I don't know how? If that would sound silly in Kanji then tell me why please. I figured it would be better then some played out tribal tattoo though hehe.

Maybe I will understand Kanji some day but for now the kana must do lol.

 

[lexico]

Can you tell me why? I don't understand obviously hehe. But I was thinking that passion is a good thing, not just for passion for another person but for passion in life. Passion for everything I do. If I could get a tattoo symbolizing that in kanji then I would.

I think I understand what you want to say; and I'm just guessing from classical Chinese; if your had 恋愛 tattooed on your back, you might be making an interesting statement equivalent to saying

"Attached in love"
"Lust after love"
"Addicted to love"
"(I love to fall) in love, (to be) in love !"
"Love hard !"

I'm sure there will alternate ways of saying what you want to say. How about "Love life 愛生" or "Love one's calling 愛命" ? (命 has the sense of one's predestined life, calling, and hence duty. Maybe not close then. A similar example could be 知天命. To know one's calling.)

 

[sasame]

Hello, JasonDesu.

>Can you tell me why?

I will explain in faltering English, if you hope for it.
あなたがそれを望むなら、私はたどたどしい英語で説明するつもりです。

Why it is strange because you seem to be shouting "I love falling in love!!!" in the presence of others.
それが変だと思うのは、あなたが人前で「私は恋愛するのが大好きでーす！」と叫んでいるように見えるからです。

"Do you think only about courting a men/woman?" ...There is a possibility of thinking so.
「あなたは、男または女と付き合うことしか考えていないわけ？」……と思う可能性があります。

For instance, is the tattoo "LOVE LOVE" cool to you?
例えば、「LOVE LOVE」という刺青は、あなたにとってカッコイイものですか？

If you think it to be cool, I can't judge whether "恋愛" is shameful to you.
もしあなたがそれをカッコイイと思うのであれば、私には「恋愛」があなたにとって恥ずかしいかどうかを判断することはできません。

The individual cannot be denied to prefer...
個人の好みを否定はできませんので……。

>I don't understand obviously hehe.

I have not understood the meaning of word "hehe". Could you teach it to me?
わたしは「hehe」という言葉の意味を理解していません。教えてもらえますか？

>But I was thinking that passion is a good thing, not just for passion for another person but for passion in life.

It is not "恋愛". "PASSION" in this case will be translated into "情熱".
それは「恋愛」ではないですね。この場合「PASSION 」は「情熱」と訳されるでしょう。

>Passion for everything I do.If I could get a tattoo symbolizing that in kanji then I would.

Such a short-word might not exist that your diversity can be expressed.
あなたの多様性を表現できるような短い言葉は、存在しないかも知れません。

For instance, "熱心" is meaning that You are earnest with an object interesting to you.
例えば「熱心」には、あなたが興味のあるものに対して一生懸命であるようすの意味があります。

ex1)あなたは熱心に勉強している。You are studying ardently.
ex2)あなたは熱心に努力した。You made an effort ardently.

But, I laugh again when there is a character of "熱心" on my lover's back.
しかし、恋人の背中に「熱心」の文字があったら、やはり私は笑ってしまいます(^_^;

As for either word, the meaning is not bad.
どちらの単語も、意味は悪くありません。

However, it is mental like the chivalry of which Japan boasts.
しかしそれは、日本が誇る武士道のように、精神的なものなのです。

It is not the one to show it off to the person.
それは人にみせびらかすためのものではありません。

It is beautiful that the desire keeps secret in the mind, and shows the
desire by the action.
想いは心に秘めておき、その想いを行動で示すからこそ美しいのです。


Another for instance, "燃える闘魂（Burning fighting spirit ?)" ...Don't be a pro wrestler.
他には例えば「燃える闘魂」……じゃ、プロレスラーだしなあ(^_^;;

削除しました It deleted.

>But I dont know how? If that would sound silly in Kanji then tell me why please.

In a word, it is "look bad!".
一言で言うと「かっこ悪い！」のです。

>I figured it would be better then some played out tribal tattoo though hehe.

Is the tattoo useless in the seal?
刺青って、シールじゃダメなの？

Though any word is finished by bantering, if it is a seal that can be easily removed...
容易に剥がすことができるシールならば、どんな言葉だろうと冗談でしたで済みますが……。

Because human is not existence of invariability, it is difficult to choose the
word for the tattoo.
人間は不変の存在ではないので、刺青用の言葉を選ぶのは難しいですね。

>Maybe I will understand Kanji some day but for now the kana must do lol.

When you understand Japanese the meaning might be understood, why did I burst out laugh.
あなたが日本語を理解したときに、なぜ私が爆笑したか、意味がわかるかも知れません。

I am very glad if you acquire the Japanese language.
私は、あなたが日本語を習得してくれたら、とてもうれしいです(^_^)

Can't you endure it with the tattoo seal until Japanese is acquired?
日本語を習得するその日まで、タトゥーシールで我慢するってわけにはいきませんか？

 

[nice gaijin]

I think what sasame-san is trying to say, is that kanji is just as played out as tribal tattoos, and it's even worse because you're taking something from another culture with explicit meaning. it's like when mike tyson got his maori face tattoo, it's an affront to the culture you're inadvertently mocking. What would you think if you saw some guy from China or Korea with "love" written on each shoulder blade?

Please read this for another perspective from an asian constantly being asked to translate words and phrases into his language by foreigners who want to permanently etch them into their skin.

I've designed a tattoo for a friend that included a chinese character; he didn't care about the culture, he just liked the way it looked and the meaning of the character. After he got it inked I saw that the tattooist forgot a stroke and the character was technically wrong. When I told him, he said "oh well, no one can read it here anyways." I have to admit that I once wanted a tattoo with foreign characters, and I am so incredibly glad I didn't go through with it for multiple reasons.

ところで、ささめさん、「hehe」というのは笑いの音の一つです。その他の「haha」とか「lol」とか「rofl」もあるんです。

 

[Mike Cash]

I wish I could find again an image I once saw on the internet poking fun at people with no knowledge of Japanese/Chinese and no connection with the culture(s) beyond thinking kanji tattoos are kewl. The image showed an Asian man with some asinine Engrish tattoo. Sort of illustrating absurdity by absurdity.

I wonder why with the current tattoo boom among Japanese youth I have yet to spot a single one sporting a kanji tattoo.....

 

[sasame]

The link is deleted.
リンクは削除しておきます。

I thought it was convenient as the example of "熱" in "情熱" is shown...
「情熱」の「熱」という字の刺青の実例としては、ちょうど良いと思ったのですが……。


Such a tattoo of "愛" is not strange.
「愛」という刺青は、それほど奇妙ではありません。

When it is "恋愛", I think it is strange. It is because my mother tongue is Japanese.
それが「恋愛」になると妙だと感じます。それは私が日本語を母国語とするが故かもしれません。

I think the most comprehensible when it can be thought that it is the same sense as the laughter of the people in the sphere in English at English printed in T-shirt etc. that the Japanese has.
それは日本人の身に着けているT シャツなどにプリントされている英語を、英語圏の方たちが笑うのと同じ感覚だと思っていただけると、一番わかりやすいと思います。


By the way, when it becomes "LOVE LOVE", I remember strange feeling though nothing is especially thought even if the tattoo of "LOVE" is seen.
ちなみに「LOVE」の刺青を見ても、特に何も思いませんが、それが「LOVE LOVE」になると、私は妙な感じを覚えます。

If English is known well, isn't it strange?
もし英語を熟知していれば、それは奇妙なものではないのでしょうか？


If people who do the tattoo do not ask the meaning as Japanese, it might be no problem no matter what it writes.
刺青をする人たちが、日本語としての意味を問うのでなければ、何を入れても問題ないと思います。


I'm sorry and Thank you for you all who pointed out my improper expression.
私の不適切な表現を指摘してくれた皆さん、ごめんなさい。そしてありがとうございます。

Please teach variously in the future.
これからも色々教えてくださいね。

I hold out to write English without an impolite expression...
失礼な表現のない英語を書けるよう、努力しますので……。

 

[sasame]

ところで、ささめさん、「hehe」というのは笑いの音の一つです。その他の「haha」とか「lol」とか「rofl」もあるんです。

Thank you.

It was a word not published in the dictionary.
それは辞書に掲載されていない単語でした。

I am very glad to understand the meaning.
意味を知ることができてうれしいです。

 

[JasonDesu]

sasame, i think i understand why you laugh. I never pictured a person with the english word love tattooed on their back. I would think that would look funny too. But it is not odd to see someone with a heart tattoo symbolizing love. Japanese culture is one that im very interested and I would feel ashamed to be that guy with a improperly written tattoo like the one somebody pointed out earlier. I've been asking friends from the US, Thailand, Phillippines, and Europe and all like the look very much. So maybe it just looks odd to those who actually grew up with Japanese/chinese as a first language. Nice Gaijin, I did not believe that i was asking for the word "love" on each shoulderblade. I was wanting two different words on each shoulderblade and since kanji can change meanings depending on what they are next too then their combined meaning would be passion.

Thanks very much for all the information.

 

[sasame]

Hello, JasonDesu.
Thank you for a polite answer.
丁寧なお返事をありがとうございます。

>But it is not odd to see someone with a heart tattoo symbolizing love.
I agree with you.
同意です。


This is likely to become a bytalk...
これは余談かもしれませんが……。

Japanese word "恋愛" is a comparatively new word.
日本語の「恋愛」という言葉は、比較的新しいものなのです。

It is a word made at the Meiji era (1868-1912), that word was a translation word of LOVE.
その言葉は"LOVE"の訳語として、明治時代（1868～1912）に作られました。

The outlook on consideration man and woman love relation on the West culture LOVE was introduced as "恋愛". And the Japanese outlook on love has changed greatly...
西洋の文化における男女の恋愛関係への見解は「恋愛」として紹介されました。そして、日本の恋愛観は、大きく変化したのですが……。

It is impossible in my English to talk about this history. Regrettable!
この歴史を私の英語で語るのは不可能であります(^_^; 残念！

 

[nice gaijin]

wow I didn't know that about that word. So it's a new kanji compound that was created to translate the western concept of love?

and I would translate ﾅｽc窶抂 as "it's a shame" or "it's too bad," though saying "regrettable!" is pretty cool, I might start using it

 

[lexico]

Very interesting information, sasame-san. I wonder if the newly introduced idea of 恋愛 has anything to do with

romanticism

ロマン主義

that believed in 1) the free will of the individual 2) the infinite possiblity of the human imagination 3) love for love's sake (as in art for art).

Wikipedia on 恋愛.

The English translation on wiki seems to be
Romantic love, so I guess Romanticist ideology has connections to how the Japanese people view 恋愛 or romantic love.

 

[nice gaijin]

doubly interesting! very intriguing theory, lexico

 

[sasame]

Hello, nice gaijin.

>So it's a new kanji compound that was created to translate the western concept of love?

Yes.
そうです。

It seems to make "愛恋" inverse and to have made "恋愛".
「愛恋」という言葉を逆さまにして「恋愛」を作ったらしいです。

>and I would translate 残念 as "it's a shame" or "it's too bad," though saying "regrettable!" is pretty cool, I might start using it

haha...Thank you.
あはは……ありがとう(^_^)

I forget to write the subject...SV... It is a basic sentence pattern.
私は主語を書くのを忘れてしまう……SV……それって基本の文型なのにね。

 

[sasame]

Hello, lexico.
You bring information is good.
あなたのもたらす情報は有益ですね。


Thought of romantic love seems to have been introduced into Japan after word
LOVE.
ロマンチック・ラブの思想は、LOVEという言葉の後に日本に入ってきたようです。

I think that this fixed the meaning of "恋愛".
私はこれが「恋愛」の意味を確定したと思います。


Japan might not have leaned on the West culture if there was no LOVE...
LOVEがなければ、日本は西洋の文化に傾倒しなかったかも知れませんねぇ……。

Love is great.
愛は偉大だわ。

 

[Elizabeth]

「恋愛」じゃなくて、「お互い妥協」、「我慢」、「家族」などを入れ墨について考えている事ってのは
あなたの一生を意義のあるものになりますね。

なぜなら、出会ったか頃のような恋愛感情を持ち続けるのはそんなに実際難しい事だからね。