Reader Ben Watson emails:
"Hi Tian, I got this tattoo and I don't have a clue what it means. In fact, I can't even remember getting this tattoo. So if you are able to enlighten me I would appreciate it. I like your site, its very entertaining. Ben"
色 【いろ】 (n) (1) colour; color; (2) sensuality; lust; (P); EP
凶 【きょう】 (n) evil; bad luck; disaster; bad harvest; ED
Probably not relevant, but maybe of interest -- I've seen the word 凶色 used in a (modernised, so possibly entirely spurious) Feng Shui context to mean something like "unlucky color". As opposed to 吉色.
ReplyDelete"Hi Tian, I got this tattoo and I don't have a clue what it means."
ReplyDeleteCall me crazy, but I'm still baffled as to how or why anyone could allow themselves to be permanently marked in a foreign language they know nothing about -- particularly this fellow as he, admittedly, doesn't (or didn't, I should say) have the foggiest idea as to what this tattoo may possibly mean. What is even more perplexing, though, is how one might manage to block the entire tattooing experience from his or her memory, to the point he or she does not recall ever having the work done.
"In fact, I can't even remember getting this tattoo."
Care to elaborate on that, Ben? ;)
Its a Buddhist saying:
ReplyDelete色即是凶，凶即是色
I have a question. I have been looking for the word "sister" or "sisters" in an asian character and I can't seem to find it anywhere... seems strange that it's so uncommon. Anyone know/have advice on where to look?
ReplyDeleteWell whitney call me crazy but who cares. So what... it could mean anything. I dont know what it means, my friends dont know what it means. I went to Japan for a year and nobody even mentioned it. They didnt care. I like it.
ReplyDeleteSo what if I dont recall getting it done. I was munted. Have you been munted and done something you cannot recall? Bill gates has been munted I am sure. The whole tattoo experience is over rated. Try sitting there getting a tatt up your neck. Feel free to quote me and break it down, oh straight one..
Anon wrote:
ReplyDelete>I have a question. I have been looking for the word
>"sister" or "sisters" in an asian character and I can't seem to
>find it anywhere...
This is kind of off-topic for the comment page, but...
In Chinese (as well as in Japanese), there are two separate terms that both mean sister, as they identify if the sister is older or younger.
In Chinese, 姊 means older sister, and 妹 means younger sister, although it's common to "double-on" the words (i.e. 姊姊 or 妹妹), whereas in Japanese, it's お姉さん and 妹と, respectively.
Using both older and younger sister together in Chinese can mean "sisters" (姊妹), as a person cannot be both your older and younger sister. While the typical plural form when referring to people can still be appended (們). You could say 姊妹們 for sisters in general, 姊姊們 for multiple older sisters, and 妹妹們 for multiple younger sisters.
達 in Japanese has a similar meaning to 們 in Chinese.
Culturally, one does not have to be related at all to refer to someone as sister or brother. If I were a high school boy who saw a young elementary school boy who was lost, I could say to him, "Little brother, are you lost? Do you need big brother to help you find your way?" Here, "big brother" would refer to myself, not the little boy's actual big brother.
Further to the comment about the Buddhist saying, I'm pretty sure it goes like this:
ReplyDelete色即是空,空即是色
"Form is emptiness, and emptiness is form."
It's from the Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra.
My instinct would be to read it as 'sexual offender,' but that's just me...
ReplyDelete姊 is the simplified character for 姐
ReplyDelete" My instinct would be to read it as 'sexual offender,' but that's just me..."
ReplyDelete6:43 PM
I think sex offender is 性罪犯
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteFurther to the comment about the Buddhist saying, I'm pretty sure it goes like this:
色即是空,空即是色
"Form is emptiness, and emptiness is form."
It's from the Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra.
-----
I'd translate it as "Tangible objects are indifferent from nothingness".