Biographies Characteristics Analysis

Japanese characters in Russian. The use of Japanese characters and their meaning in Russian

Tattoos in the form of Chinese and Japanese characters are very popular in European countries. The hieroglyphs of the tattoo carry originality and mysticism, since their meaning is practically unknown to anyone except the owner himself. But, despite this, under a seemingly simple symbol, a deep meaning and powerful energy can be hidden. In fact, only Europeans apply Chinese and Japanese characters to their bodies, while the inhabitants of these Asian countries prefer English inscriptions, moreover, written with grammatical errors. Be that as it may, hieroglyphs are very difficult to translate.

Before choosing any sketch you like, take some time to find out the exact meaning of the symbols. Otherwise, you can get into an unpleasant situation, for example, the one that happened two years ago with a German teenager. Having paid 180 euros, the young man asked the tattoo artist to apply Chinese characters to him, meaning "love, respect, obey."

Having made a long-awaited tattoo, the guy went to rest in China. What was his surprise when Chinese waitresses in restaurants constantly paid attention to him. The young man decided to ask why his tattoo causes such an effect. Having learned the correct translation of his hieroglyphs, the young man was shocked. On his arm was the inscription "At the end of the day I become an ugly boy." Returning home, it turned out that the tattoo parlor was closed. The unlucky boy had to do laser tattoo removal for 1200 euros.

If you still decide to make hieroglyphs of a tattoo, find out their meaning in advance in authoritative reference books, or choose from the most popular and sought-after symbols.

The meaning of hieroglyphs

Chinese characters tattoo

Zi is the name of the traditional Chinese script used to write official documents in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and other Chinese settlements. The Chinese "alphabet" (let's call it so conditionally) contains 47,000 letters-symbols of zi. In order to improve the literacy of the population, the government passed a law to simplify the writing system. Many dashes, sticks and dots have disappeared from use.

The Chinese themselves say that it takes only 4,000 characters to speak and write Chinese fluently. Yes, hieroglyphs are really difficult both to write and to translate. However, there has already been a definite trend for tattoos. The most popular and sought after hieroglyphs of a tattoo are symbols meaning love, strength, family, luck, peace, fire. This does not mean that your choice is limited to these words. With the help of Chinese tattoos, you can express your positive or negative emotions, inspire yourself with encouraging words, or capture a pleasant moment in your memory.

Japanese characters tattoo


Japanese hieroglyphic tattoos, like Chinese ones, are popular almost everywhere, except for these countries themselves. Writing in Japan consists of three systems: kanji, katakana, and hiragana. Kanzi is the most common of the three. The characters from this system came from Chinese writing. However, Japanese characters are easier to write. In total, the alphabet has 50,000 characters, most of which belong to nouns. Katakana is used mainly for loanwords, internationalisms, and proper names. Hiragana is responsible for adjectives and other grammatical phenomena. Tattoos based on the symbols of this system are much less common than the previous two.


Many celebrities have chosen Japanese characters as tattoos. For example, Britney Spears chose a symbol that translates as "weird". However, in fact, the singer wanted to get a tattoo with the inscription "mystical". Melanie C, an ex-peppercorn, has never hidden her girlish strength. The phrase "Girl Power" was the band's motto. It was these words that Mel C tattooed on her shoulder. Pink expressed her happiness with a Japanese tattoo of the same name.

Would you like a tattoo like this?We look forward to your comments!

Most people who start learning Japanese sooner or later also start learning Japanese characters.
The Japanese have a saying: "How you sit while writing a hieroglyph is how you write it."

That is, the posture while writing the hieroglyph must be correct: the feet are located on the floor, the hips are on a chair parallel to the floor, the back is straight.

By the way, when writing hieroglyphs, the elbows should not be located on the table, but should be gently lowered from the table. The distance between the notebook on which you are writing and your eyes should be sufficient - you do not need to lean forward too much.

In writing hieroglyphs, there are rules - they must be written in a strictly defined order, line by line.

Let's look at other rules:
1. It is very important to write hieroglyphs harmoniously, that is, all parts of the hieroglyph should be arranged so that these parts make up a single hieroglyph. A common mistake beginners to study hieroglyphs is that they write the parts that make up the hieroglyph at a fairly large distance from each other.
Hieroglyphs should be written compactly:

2. Hieroglyphs should be written from left to right or top to bottom.
Let's first look at what types of hieroglyphs are written from top to bottom.

3. follows from left to right.

From left to right, characters are written as follows:

Also, from left to right, small lines are written, following one after another at the bottom of the hieroglyphs:

4. There is a sufficient number of hieroglyphs when one line crosses the entire hieroglyph.
In such cases, this trait is written last:

5. should be written vertically.

Beginners to learn Japanese often make a common mistake - they write characters with an inclination either to the right or to the left. Of course, there are Japanese who write hieroglyphs with a slope, but still they should be written strictly vertically:

So, we have considered the basic rules for writing hieroglyphs.

I hope that they will help you write hieroglyphs correctly and beautifully!

Modern Japanese writing consists of three main components: kanji - hieroglyphs of Chinese origin, and two syllabaries formed on the basis of the same hieroglyphs in Japan - hiragana and katakana. For example, the word "Aikido" in Japanese can be written in three different ways. With the help of kanji characters - 合気道. Or using the "hiragana" syllabary ー あいきど . Another option is also possible - using the alphabet "katakana" - アイキド. In addition, when writing numerals, the Japanese often use Arabic numerals. Also, in the texts, Latin letters can be found when recording well-known international abbreviations (km - kilometers, TV - television). Less common in the texts is the so-called "romaji" - transliteration of Japanese in Latin letters.

Kanji - ( Japanese: 漢字) - literally - signs of the Han Dynasty. They are mainly used in writing when writing nouns, adjectives, verb stems and proper names of Japanese origin. Often one kanji has two or more readings. For example, the kanji sword (刀) - katana, in the word "tanto" (短刀) - a short sword is read - "that", and in the word "shinai" (竹刀) - a bamboo sword - "nai". The choice of reading kanji depends more on the combination with other kanji. Because of this, it is precisely the choice of the correct reading of hieroglyphs at the initial stage of learning that is not an easy task.

There are approximately 3,000 characters in the written language of modern Japan. At the moment, 2150 kanji is the required minimum, which is taught in schools.

For example, let's write "Daseikan dojo" using kanji characters:

蛇 勢 館 道 場

Or another example - "Aikido Yoshinkan":

合 気 道養 神 館

Hiragana (Japanese: 平仮名) is a syllabary. The so-called "women's letter". The name was fixed due to the fact that at the initial stage, hiragana was used mainly by women, who at that time did not have access to a good education. Hiragana conveys short vowels, their combinations with consonants, and the only consonant sound is "n" (ん). It is used in writing mainly to write words for which there are no kanji, such as particles and suffixes. In addition, it is used instead of kanji in cases where the writer or reader does not know the spelling of some hieroglyphs.

For example, consider the recording of the name of the Aikido Yoshinkan technique. Shomen Irimi Nage- shomen iriminage 正面 入りみ 投げ - "throw front entrance." Here is the word Shomen - 正面 - facade, front - is written only with kanji, and in the word Irimi - 入りみ - entrance and Nage 投げ - throw, kana are used りみ - "rimi" and - "ge", respectively. Another example: 合気道養神館の道場 - Aikido Yoshinkan no dojo - kana here の (but) indicates the genitive case, that is, it emphasizes that the dojo belongs to Aikido Yoshinkan - and the translation is: " dojo Aikido Yoshinkan".

Note the use of hiragana in case of ignorance of kanji characters with known phonetic sound. In this case, the already familiar phrase 蛇勢館道場 - Daseikan Dojo, we can write it in hiragana, it will turn out - だせいかんどじょ .

Hiragana.

Katakana (Japanese: 片仮名) - the second the syllabic alphabet of the Japanese language fully corresponds to the first one phonetically, but functionally performs other tasks. First of all, it is used to write words borrowed from other languages, foreign proper names, as well as technical and scientific terms. In addition, katakana can be used to make a semantic stress in a certain section of the text written in kanji and hiragana. Katakana symbols are significantly simplified and many resemble similar hiragana kana, but only one character "he" - (へ) completely matches.

Consider examples: Russia - Ro-Shi-A - ロ シア , or Irina - I-Ri-Na - イリナ , antenna from the English word "antenna" - A-N-TE-Na - アンテナ , or Pu-Ro-Ge-Ra- Mu - プログラム - from English "programme" - program.

Katakana.

Romaji - (Japanese: ローマ字) - literally - Latin characters (letters). First of all, these are abbreviations of foreign origin - USB (Universal Serial Bus - Universal Serial Bus), UN (United Nations - United Nations). Japanese names are written in Latin letters on documents so that foreigners can read them. Romaji greatly simplifies the work with a computer and other electronic equipment. Any keyboard can be switched to kana input mode using romaji.

Horizontal and vertical writing in Japanese. Until 1958, the Japanese language used the traditional Chinese way of writing 縦書き (たてがき - Tategaki) - literally - vertical writing, characters are written from top to bottom, columns from right to left. To this day, this option is used in newspapers and in fiction. In the computer industry, as well as in scientific and technical literature, the European way of writing characters 横書き (よこがき - Yokogaki) is used - literally - side letter characters are written from left to right, lines - from top to bottom. Officially adopted in 1959, this notation allows you to insert terms or phrases in European languages, chemical formulas and mathematical equations. You can, however, meet with a horizontal letter from right to left, this is not uncommon on all kinds of plates and signs.

An example of traditional vertical writing.

The same text in modern horizontal writing.

AYF (Aikido Yoshinkan Foundation Tokyo Japan) certificates issued by Yoshinkan Aikido Hombu Dojo (Headquarters) and certified instructors Aikido Yoshinkan, as a rule, are traditionally filled in a vertical manner.

Aikido Yoshinkan instructor certificate.

In today's article, we will take a closer look.

You will learn:

  • How hieroglyphs appeared in Japan
  • Why do hieroglyphs have “on” and “kun” readings
  • How many hieroglyphs do you need to know
  • Why the Japanese will not give up hieroglyphs
  • How to read the character "々"
  • What order of writing traits should be followed
  • And much more!

At the end of the article, you will find copybooks that will help you write some Japanese characters on your own.

Japanese characters and their meaning

For writing, the Japanese use special characters - hieroglyphs, which were borrowed from China. In Japan, the hieroglyphs are called so: “Letters (of the dynasty) of Han”, or “Chinese characters” 漢字 (kanji). It is believed that the system of Chinese characters appeared as early as the 16th century BC. The Japanese language until the 5th century AD. had no written form. This was due to the strong state fragmentation. Japan was a weak state, consisting of many principalities, each of which had its own power, its own dialect. But gradually strong rulers came to power, the unification of principalities began in the country, which led to the adoption of the culture and writing of the most powerful state at that time. It is not known exactly how Chinese writing ended up in Japan, but there is a widespread version that the first hieroglyphs were brought to the country by Buddhist monks. The adaptation of Chinese writing was not easy, because. Japanese language in grammar, vocabulary, phonetics has nothing to do with Chinese. Initially, kanji and Chinese Hanzi were no different from each other. But now there is a difference between them: some hieroglyphs were created in Japan itself - “national hieroglyphs” 国字 (kokuji), some have received a different meaning. And after the Second World War, the writing of many kanji was simplified.

Why do Japanese characters need multiple readings?

The Japanese borrowed from Chinese not only hieroglyphs, but also their readings. Having heard the original Chinese reading of a character, the Japanese tried to pronounce it in their own way. This is how the "Chinese" or "on" reading - 音読 (onemi) happened. For example, the Chinese word for water (水) - "shui", has become "sui" due to the peculiarities of the Japanese pronunciation. Some kanji have multiple onomi because they were borrowed from China several times: in different periods and from different areas. But when the Japanese wanted to use characters to write their own words, Chinese readings weren't enough. Therefore, it became necessary to translate the hieroglyphs into Japanese. Just as the English word "water" is translated as "みず, mizu", the Chinese word "水" was assigned the same meaning - "みず". This is how the “Japanese”, “kun” reading of the hieroglyph appeared - 訓読み, (kunyomi). Some kanji may have several kun at once, or may not have at all. Commonly used Japanese characters can have up to ten different readings. The choice of reading a character depends on many things: context, meaning, combination with other kanji, and even on the place in the sentence. Therefore, often the only sure way to determine where reading is one-on-one and where reading is kun is to learn specific constructions.

How many hieroglyphs are there?

It is almost impossible to answer the question about the total number of hieroglyphs, since their number is truly enormous. Judging by the dictionaries: from 50 to 85 thousand. However, in the computer field, font systems have been released containing encodings for 170-180 thousand characters! It includes all the ancient and modern ideograms ever used throughout the world. In ordinary texts, for example, newspapers or magazines, only a small part of the hieroglyphs is used - about 2500 characters. Of course, there are also rare hieroglyphs, mostly technical terms, rare names and surnames. There is a list approved by the Japanese government of "characters for everyday use" ("joyo-kanji"), which contains 2136 characters. It is this number of characters that a graduate of a Japanese school should remember and be able to write.

How to quickly memorize hieroglyphs?

Why won't the Japanese give up hieroglyphs?

Many learners of Japanese or Chinese often wonder: why does such an inconvenient writing system still exist? Hieroglyphs are classified as ideographic signs, in the outline of which at least a symbolic, but similarity with the depicted object is preserved. For example, the first Chinese characters are images of specific objects: 木 - "tree", 火 - "fire", etc. The relevance of hieroglyphs today is partly due to the fact that ideographic writing has some advantages over phonographic writing. With the help of the same ideograms, people speaking different languages ​​​​can communicate, because the ideogram conveys the meaning, and not the sound of the word. For example, when a Korean, Chinese, and Japanese see the character “犬”, they will read the character differently, but they will all understand that it is about a dog. Another advantage is the compactness of the letter, because one character stands for a whole word. But if the Chinese, for example, have no alternative to hieroglyphs, then the Japanese have syllabaries! Will the Japanese give up hieroglyphs in the near future? They won't refuse. Indeed, due to the huge number of homonyms in the Japanese language, the use of hieroglyphs becomes simply necessary. With the same sound, words, depending on their meaning, are written with different hieroglyphs. What can we say about the Japanese mentality, which implies loyalty to traditions and pride in its history. And thanks to the computer, the problem associated with the complex writing of hieroglyphs was resolved. Today, typing Japanese texts can be very fast.

Why is the symbol "»?

The character "々" is not a character. As we already know, any ideographic sign has at least one definite phonetic correspondence. The same icon is constantly changing its reading. This symbol is called the repetition sign, and it is needed in order to avoid repeated writing of hieroglyphs. For example, the word "people" consists of two hieroglyphs for "person" - "人人" (hitobito), but this word is written "人々" for simplicity. Although there is no grammatical plural form in Japanese, it can sometimes be formed by repeating kanji, as in our human example:

  • 人 hito - person; 人々 hitobito - people;
  • 山 pit - mountain; 山々 yamayama - mountains;

It also happens that some words change their meaning when doubled:

  • 時 currents - time; 時々 tokidoki - sometimes.

The character "々" has many names: the dancing mark 踊り字 (odoriji), the repetition mark 重ね字 (kasaneji), the noma ten ノマ点 (because of its similarity to the katakana characters ノ and マ), and many others.

What is the order of writing strokes in hieroglyphs?

Along with Chinese, Japanese characters have a certain sequence of writing strokes. Proper stroke order helps ensure characters are recognizable, even if you write them quickly. The Japanese reduced this order to several rules, which, of course, have exceptions. The most important rule: hieroglyphs are written top to bottom and left to right. Here are some more ground rules:

1. Horizontal lines are written from left to right and are parallel;

2. Vertical lines are written from top to bottom;

3. If the hieroglyph has both vertical and horizontal lines, then the horizontal ones are written first;

4. The vertical crossing the hieroglyph or its element in the center is written last;

5. Horizontal lines passing through the sign are also written last;

6. First, a folding line to the left is written, then a folding line to the right;

With the right order of strokes, the hieroglyph turns out beautiful, and it is much easier to write it. All kanji must be the same size. In order for the hieroglyph to be balanced, it must strictly fit into a square of a given size. Now that you know what order of strokes you need to follow, try writing a few simple hieroglyphs that we have already met in this article:

人- person


山 - mountain


水- water


木-tree


火 - fire


I hope that from this article you have learned something new and interesting for yourself. As homework, write down the above several times. I think that everyone who is familiar with hieroglyphics has their favorite hieroglyph, one that they immediately remembered or liked. Do you have a favorite hieroglyph? Share in the comments about doing homework, I will also be glad to hear your impressions. The second part .

Want to learn more about hieroglyphs?

You might also be interested three-week training for the effective study of Japanese characters, from which you will learn 30 most popular Japanese characters, 90 common words in Japanese, get a valuable tool for further study of kanji and many other invaluable bonuses.

The number of places on the course is limited., so we would advise you to make the right decision right now. Take the right step towards your dream! Just go to .

Various characters, especially Japanese ones, are among the most popular tattoo designs in many countries. They are characterized by mystery and originality, because the meaning of this pattern is not known to anyone except the owner of the tattoo. And under the image of an elegant hieroglyph, both deep meaning and strong energy, as well as ridiculous nonsense, can be hidden.

Japanese hieroglyphs for tattoos in Russia have spread relatively recently. They have become quite popular due to the rich history and original culture of Japan. Such painting on the body is unusually beautiful, and with the help of skillfully applied signs, you can tell a lot about yourself.

Experienced masters make sure that a tattoo in the form of a hieroglyph is not just a beautiful picture, but carries a deep meaning. The meaning of such drawings is so diverse that almost anyone can choose an image that is suitable for him.

such tattoos are popular due to the fact that they look harmonious and stylish on any part of the body and in different sizes - from large to small.

How to understand the meaning of a tattoo?

Such tattoos theoretically belong to the category of "inscriptions". But if we consider the hieroglyph by analogy with the letters of the alphabet, then it does not have such a specific meaning.

It always has a certain verbal meaning:

  • love;
  • health;
  • happiness;
  • life;
  • a family.

One hieroglyph can represent a symbol or a whole sentence. To minimize the chance of mistakes and unpleasant situations, it is recommended to choose well-known and popular characters that will not have a negative meaning in any spelling.

An important point is the arrangement of strokes above the HIEROGLYPH - Depending on their location, the same signs acquire a different meaning.

How to choose a sketch

For a tattoo, you need an idea for its implementation, and not every person has a specific idea of ​​\u200b\u200bhis future tattoo. And the selection of a sketch of a Japanese character needs to be done even more carefully, since this is not an arbitrary combination of lines, but a symbol with a great semantic load.

  1. Decide which character pattern you would like on your skin. To do this, you can look at different images on the Internet and print the ones you like the most before meeting with the master - a good example will best explain your wishes and preferences.
  2. You should clearly and specifically talk about what kind of hieroglyph you need to perform, having previously found out its meaning and the possible nuances of its application.
  3. It is necessary to take into account the size and location on the body. For a small tattoo, it is better to choose a simple hieroglyph with thin lines and without busting with too small strokes.

Since after some time the patterns on the skin lose their brightness and clarity of lines, it is better to choose signs printed in black.

Location of the tattoo

Hieroglyphic signs need not only the correct definition of their content, but also a careful selection of the place of application. Despite the fact that they look good almost everywhere, you should clearly consider the composition of the desired symbols on the skin.

The most popular for this are:

  • neck, back of the head;
  • back (along the spine);
  • hands (wrists, forearms, shoulders);
  • hips.

The most difficult to draw a picture on the following parts of the body:

  • face;
  • fingers;
  • ribs;
  • Feet;
  • genitals.

Composition and color scheme

Japanese hieroglyphs for tattoos are usually done in black. But there are also symbols using 5 primary colors, each of which carries a certain meaning.

Color Meaning
blue greenIn Japan, this is one color, which is denoted by the word "aoi". It represents the wind and is considered the most fickle element, which can embody both the calmness of the sky and trees, and the destructive power of a hurricane.
RedSymbolizes fire, sun, energy and development. According to the Japanese, this color protects from evil and brings joy, peace, good luck to the house.
YellowAssociated with earth, gold, constancy and prosperity.
WhiteThe most controversial in the Japanese color scheme. It simultaneously personifies both mourning and a talisman from the other world.

In tattoos, the aforementioned shades are used to give more expressiveness and energy. For example, to increase its favorable meaning, the hieroglyph is surrounded by a red line. You can make the tattoo unusual and original by carefully inscribing the symbol into any pattern or image.

For example, decorate a hieroglyph in different colors or draw it in three-dimensional form.

Things to remember before applying

The key point before applying a hieroglyph to the body is to carefully study its meaning and combination with other signs. Incorrect use of a symbol can lead to its opposite meaning. or leave the tattoo owner with a silly or indecent inscription.

Therefore, before contacting the master, you need to consider in detail the desired drawing and clarify its content in specialized literature or from people who know Japanese calligraphy. You should not shift the entire responsibility for the concept of such a tattoo to the tattoo artist.

The master is responsible only for the technique and aesthetics of execution, knowledge of all unusual symbols is not his responsibility.

Features of applying tattoos in the form of hieroglyphs

Before performing a tattoo, you need to provide the master with a sketch and determine the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe skin for its implementation. When everything you need is selected, preparation for the process begins.

It consists of the following:

  1. Removal of unwanted hair from the skin, if necessary
  2. Applying an anesthetic gel or spray.
  3. Treatment of the skin with an antiseptic.
  4. Transferring the pattern to the skin using special paper or a regular pen.
  5. Driving ink into an image with a needle from a special tattoo machine.

Video about what you need to know before applying a tattoo:

It is important to remember that a tattoo is done for life, so before performing a tattoo in the form of a hieroglyph, you need to study and weigh all the pros and cons. Also, a sketch on paper will always differ from the original, so this must be discussed with the master in advance in order to avoid disputes and unpleasant situations.

Popular Japanese characters

Few know that most of the Japanese characters are taken from the Chinese script. Now there are those that were invented in the country of the Rising Sun. They differ from Chinese characters in greater simplicity and conciseness.

Japanese hieroglyphs for tattoos are not just drawings on the body, but real philosophical symbols that can become talismans for their carriers. Most of them contain a positive meaning, which has become another reason for their popularity.

For example:

  • Happiness- this sign denotes harmony, awakening inner strength, openness. It should be applied in an oriental style, using traditional Japanese symbols.
  • Double Happiness- one of the most popular signs. Known as a strong talisman for the fulfillment of the most cherished desires. It is recommended to fill it for happiness and understanding with your loved one.
  • Love- most often means mutual tender feelings. It also helps to resolve external and internal contradictions, so it is recommended to fill the sign in the heart area.
  • Luck- such a hieroglyph really brings luck and positive changes in life. Many use this tattoo as a personal wearable amulet.
  • Eternity. The literal translation of this symbol is: "Joy and happiness will be eternal."
  • Strength- strengthens physical strength and spiritual energy, also suitable for improving relationships in marriage and family.
  • Fire- the sign schematically depicts a fire with flames. Since ancient times, people have feared and respected this element, so the application of such a hieroglyph should be treated thoughtfully and carefully.
  • Water- a strong key sign, vaguely resembling a forked river.
  • Air- for the Japanese, it is, first of all, an energy flow of thoughts and information. The meaning of this hieroglyph is multifaceted, and it will embody various meanings - air, steam, wind, mood, state of mind.
  • Earth- has some resemblance to a cross and resembles a hill or mountain.

More you can get a tattoo with a Japanese proverb or quote, but about this, you should consult the master in detail, and not independently compose sentences from hieroglyphs.

Japanese characters for men

The representatives of the stronger sex like tattoos that evoke associations with strength and courage.

Therefore, the following Japanese characters are a common choice for tattoos among men:

  • the fire;
  • wind;
  • victory;
  • strength;
  • samurai;
  • warrior;
  • courage;
  • honour;
  • independence.

Also, guys are often attracted to signs that evoke associations with animal strength, courage and courage.

Such as:

  • the Dragon;
  • tiger;
  • bear;
  • wolf.

Usually men do not hide their tattoos. On the contrary, they often demonstrate them by stuffing them on prominent parts of the body - on the arms and neck.

Japanese characters for women

Japanese hieroglyphs for tattoos are of great interest to women as well. These images are the best. After all, it is not common for girls to apply too large and noticeable tattoos, and such symbols look beautiful and stylish both on open areas of the body and closed from prying eyes.

Most often, women choose hieroglyphs for tattoos with positive feelings and positive characteristics.

For example:

  • love;
  • family, home;
  • loyalty;
  • soul;
  • eternity;
  • dream;
  • happiness;
  • the beauty;
  • sea.

Even among the fair sex, signs symbolizing the constellations of the zodiac, seasons, various flowers and plants are popular.

Animal designation

Representatives of both sexes often apply hieroglyphic drawings denoting animals on the body. In Japan, such signs have a sacred meaning., therefore, they should also be stuffed deliberately, and not as a tribute to fashion. Some representatives of the animal world have gained special love and popularity in tattooing in the form of Japanese characters.

  • The Dragon is one of the most popular Japanese characters. Denotes ancient wisdom, nobility, power and courage. In the land of the Rising Sun, this mythological creature is a harbinger of happiness and good luck. After all, the dragon is full of frantic vitality, activity and fire, he is not capable of meanness and duplicity.
  • Tiger- symbolizes leadership, courage and steadfastness. In ancient times, it was revered by the Japanese as one of the sacred animals along with the dragon.
  • Wolf- is considered a magical beast and personifies justice, freedom and fearlessness. He is also the embodiment of devotion to his family, as he is faithful only to the she-wolf he has chosen.
  • Cat- in Japan, this animal is especially revered, both in ancient times and in the present day. This is one of the most diverse representatives of the animal world in terms of meanings and symbolism. The image of a cat is associated with independence, with mystery, grace, as well as with home and family comfort.
  • Fox- is often mentioned in Japanese legends as a magical and mysterious beast. They are considered spirits that are not related to the forces of good or evil, and their main task is to monitor the balance of light and dark. This hieroglyph will reflect magic, cunning and patience.
  • Snake- this creature in mythology is called a small dragon, but it has both positive and negative qualities.

In a positive sense, the snake symbolizes wisdom, talent, justice.

Mystical hieroglyphs

In tattoo parlors, Japanese signs are in demand, which denote worldview, lifestyle, and mystery.

Such as:

  • Karma- according to Buddhist philosophy, it depends on what actions its owner performed, righteous or sinful.
  • Eternity- in its outline, this hieroglyph is very similar to the sign "water" due to the fact that the Japanese personified its flow over time.
  • eternal journey- this phrase consists of four characters, in which the sign of eternity is also based on the symbol of water. The red calligraphic seal of the author is placed at the very bottom of the inscription.
  • Emptiness- a hieroglyph that is quite rich in semantic load, despite the first impression of the meaning of this word. Denotes attachment to illusory things that have no real value.

It is believed that mystical symbols leave a certain imprint on the life path of a person and his development.

Japanese hieroglyphs reflecting the state of mind

There is a small group of Japanese characters that can be applied to any part of the body. They reflect the state of mind of a person, his emotions, desires, goals. Such tattoos, despite the general meaning, will not be banal, but, on the contrary, will add individuality to the style of its owner.

These tattoos include:

  • Vera;
  • good;
  • harmony;
  • joy;
  • calm.

Japanese characters tattoo on the neck

Tattooed hieroglyphs are stuffed on the neck more often than on other parts of the body. Here, in any case, the tattoo will not go unnoticed, so here it is applied by bright and self-confident personalities.

A tattoo on the neck can be placed in several ways:

  • a large symbol denoting one word or semantic phrase;
  • 2-3 hieroglyphs placed in a vertical sequence and denoting wisdom;
  • from 5 signs that are compiled into a well-known aphorism or parable.

There are several hieroglyphic images that are recommended to be applied specifically to the neck:

  • angel;
  • wealth;
  • update;
  • purity.

japanese hieroglyph tattoo on stomach

The abdomen is a hidden part of the body, so a tattoo with a personal meaning should be applied here, which can become a talisman and save you from trouble. If the tattoo does not serve such a purpose, then you need to choose a hieroglyph with a positive meaning and energy.

according to philosophy, there are many sources of vitality in the abdomen.

Japanese character tattoo on arm

On the hands and wrists, especially for girls, such hieroglyphs look very stylish and expressive, such as:

  • the beauty;
  • dream;
  • love;
  • harmony;
  • happiness.

There is a sign that the sign of "double happiness" in the hands of a childless husband and wife helps them become parents.

Japanese characters tattoo on the back

The back is another popular place for tattooing. Masters often associate this part of the body with the canvas, on which there are much more opportunities to show imagination.

A few significant advantages to choosing this place:

  • freedom for self-expression;
  • tattoo on the back is easy to hide under clothes;
  • you can make a composition with symmetrical hieroglyphs, focusing on the spine as an axis.

With the help of a tattoo, you can both hide the flaws of the figure and show its advantages.

Japanese character tattoo on leg

On the leg, a tattoo in the form of hieroglyphs is most often stuffed by girls and order the drawing mainly on the thigh and on the foot in the ankle area. The first version of the image embodies the combination of chastity and severity of Japanese symbols with eroticism attached to the selected part of the body.

Signs on the foot emphasize beauty and fragility.

Japanese character tattoo on the shoulder

The owners of tattoos on the shoulders are most often representatives of the stronger sex who thus seek to further emphasize their masculinity, strength and courage. For a tattoo on this part of the body, any hieroglyph is suitable, provided that its meaning and composition are chosen correctly.

Japanese character tattoo on chest

The chest is also an advantageous area for applying three-dimensional tattooed images. Due to the fact that this part of the body is not as smooth as the back, the pattern can turn out to be voluminous. Therefore, it is here that the application of the hieroglyph in the form of 3D will be successful.


Japanese hieroglyphs for tattoos are usually done in black.

It is also believed that Japanese symbols, being close to the heart, protect and protect. After getting a tattoo on the chest, you need to follow some rules for caring for it, namely: wear loose clothes, do not sleep on your stomach, and women will have to not wear a bra for a while.

Japanese characters tattoo on the lower back

Drawings in the form of hieroglyphic writing on the lower back will first of all evoke associations with sensuality and temptation, despite the meaning of the applied symbols. After all, the lower back is located next to the intimate areas, but it does not apply to them.

Such tattoos cause erotic interest not only in girls, but also in guys. In addition, the lower back changes less than other parts of the body when the figure changes, and the image will not lose its attractiveness.

Japanese character tattoo on forearm

Tattoos on the forearm of a man are usually in black. and reflect strength, uncompromisingness, sharpness. In this case, the hieroglyphs will not be an exception to the rule and will be selected according to the same principles.

For a female, a tattoo in this area is an opportunity for decoration and self-expression with almost no unpleasant pain. Girls usually try not to cover the entire skin of the forearm with a pattern. Their favorites in this regard will certainly be Japanese characters on the front or back of the hand.

Japanese characters tattoo on the spine

In the East, the spine is considered the focus of human energy and the most powerful energy channel. The hieroglyphs applied to it are able to enhance the vitality without revealing their true meaning to others. In addition, Japanese symbols along the vertebrae look stylish, impressive and unusual.

Celebrities with Japanese character tattoos

Britney Spears has chosen a sign for herself, the translation of which means the word "strange". Although the goal of the singer was to get a tattoo with the inscription "mystical". This situation once again proves that the choice of oriental signs for a tattoo must be treated carefully and scrupulously.

Symbolism for a tattoo, made in the form of hieroglyphs, primarily reflects the inner world and individuality of its owner.

Japanese culture is characterized by external restraint and deep inner content, therefore, one should be extremely careful when applying such a body pattern, since the East does not tolerate a frivolous attitude towards its traditions.

Article formatting: E. Chaikina

A useful video clip about Japanese hieroglyphs for a tattoo

The plot of the history of the appearance of hieroglyphs: