The character 樂 has multiple meanings depending on the context. Commonly it means "happy/joy". When combined with other characters, it would then mean "music".
http://www.bmezine.com/tattoo/A70113/high/bmepb429211.jpg
I don't know this young man's original intention when he picked what appears to be 喪 (sad/mourning) and 樂.
I could only assume he wanted "sad & happy", however this appears to be "dirge", or "funeral music".
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“丧”in 文言文 has a rare usage where it serves as a transitive verb: "loss of delight."
ReplyDeleteWell, maybe he wanted "dirge"? It's plenty goth. ;P
ReplyDeleteLooks like it could be chang, 'long'
ReplyDeleteIn Japanese, there is the four-character compound 喜怒哀楽, which refers to emotions in general (happiness, anger, sadness, pleasure). I would assume it comes from Chinese as most such compounds do, but anyway, that tattoo is missing the first part, the first kanji is messed up, and it's a lame idea for a tattoo anyway.
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, 哀歌 works better in Japanese for lament, though some compounds do use 楽 for music (洋楽、邦楽、弦楽、吹奏楽、etc.).
Yea..哀樂 from 喜怒哀樂 seems to make a bit more sense. Perhaps he mistook 喪 for 哀? They do look similar.
ReplyDeletelast summer i saw this girl with 死鳥 written on her back. :/ i wonder what she thought it meant.
ReplyDeletePerhaps she tryed to get 不死鳥 (Phoenix Bird) and couldn't afford to pay for the 1st kanji...
ReplyDelete死鳥 "Dead bird" or "Bird of Death" that could have been done on purpose.
ReplyDelete