What does this tattoo mean?

emzolita · 09-08-2011 10:05pm #1

Hi guys,

My best friend has gotten a Japanese tattoo, and wont tell me what it means, he told me to work it out myself.

Hence i'm here.

Doesnt seem to breaking forum rules, sorry if it is,

Cheers in advance ,
Emma xx

Nagikami · 10-08-2011 12:44am

From what I can tell from my limited knowledge of Japanese it says:
Hardship strengthens people

Giruilla · 11-08-2011 8:18am

This is it typed out :'苦難は人を鍛える'

If you pop that into one of those internet translaters you'll get: 'The hardship trains a person' or 'Will train the human misery'!

My translation would be pretty much the same as Nagikami - Hardship makes you stronger, or the tough times discipline us or something... who knows what your friend was hoping for!

Tristram · 11-08-2011 8:32am

I really think that tattoo is awful...

Daniel S · 11-08-2011 8:33am

Nah, it really means "I've a small penis..."

Giruilla · 11-08-2011 9:33am

Tristram wrote: »

I really think that tattoo is awful...

i wrote that in my post too.. but then edited it out becuase I felt bad!

its one thing with chinese symbols.. but seeing a japanese sentence written out as a tattoo is fairly wierd..
if you really wanted to get a japanese tattoo, a 4 moji jukugo would be far better.

Tristram · 12-08-2011 3:09am

Giruilla wrote: »

i wrote that in my post too.. but then edited it out becuase I felt bad!

its one thing with chinese symbols.. but seeing a japanese sentence written out as a tattoo is fairly wierd..
if you really wanted to get a japanese tattoo, a 4 moji jukugo would be far better.

Yeah, definitely. Some of my mates have gotten really nice tattoos over here before shipping back home. Most are images that incorporate kanji.

RyDar · 14-08-2011 9:34pm

The equivalent in English would be the phrase "what doesn't kill someone makes them stronger"

I really think Japanese sentences make awful tattoos, the Kanji doesn't tend to flow with the Hiragana, especially in the longer phrases...

edit: inb4theflame
I'm giving "what doesn't kill someone makes them stronger" as an equivalent and not as a literal translation.

FruitLover · 26-08-2011 10:02pm

emzolita wrote: »

My best friend has gotten a Japanese tattoo, and wont tell me what it means, he told me to work it out myself.

I bet he can't even read it himself. Ask him to read it out loud for the laugh.

You might also let him know that the last character looks more like a stylised 'ろ' rather than 'る', which it's supposed to be.

What does this tattoo mean?

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