from: Bill R. 
to: "tiangotlost@gmail.com" 
date: Fri, Dec 21, 2012 at 11:16 AM 
subject: tattoo mystery 

Hello: 

My name is Bill and I am writing to you from Florida. 

Recently, I've met a lady that has many tattoos. I asked her about one of them, and she embarrassingly admitted to me that having gotten it quite a long time ago (being her first one), she does not remember what it says. It is apparently a phrase of some sort written in kanji. 

I immediately recognized the first symbol as "tao", or "do" (the way/path/road), but the others are unfamiliar to me. Clearly, with So many kanji in the world, it is daunting to try to find them all. I've attached a photo of the mystery tattoo if you could be so kind as to help in translating it. 

Thank you very much, and I hope your day finds you well, 


Bill



Another sucker of the gibberish font.

from: Amanda S.

to: tiangotlost@gmail.com 

date: Fri, Nov 30, 2012 at 2:46 PM
subject: Fast and Foolish?

Hi Tian, 

My brother recently got a tattoo that he believe translates to "fast and furious." 

Is this the case at all?

Thank you!

Yes, it does say "fast" and "foolish".

from: Diego S.

to: tiangotlost@gmail.com 

date: Thu, Nov 29, 2012 at 7:37 PM 

subject: What does this mean?

Hi dude, I don't know how to post a new image in your blog, so I'm sending this e-mail, I hope you can help me with this. I really need to know what is the meaning of this tattoo.

Hope you can help me...

Whoever got this tattoo is an idiot, and this is why.

from: Brian T. 
to: "tiangotlost@gmail.com" 
date: Thu, Nov 22, 2012 at 2:27 PM 
subject: Trust in God Tattoo? 

My brother in law thinks this says "trust in God". Can you confirm this? 

Thanks

 
神 typically is used to describe deity, not necessarily the Judea-Christian sense of "God", which is 上帝.

信用 is not "trust", rather creditworthiness along the line of trying to get a loan from bank.

from: JK
to: "tiangotlost@gmail.com"
date: Mon, Nov 19, 2012 at 9:09 PM
subject: Tattoo meaning if any?

I got this tattoo 17 years ago in NYC. Tattoos were not totally legal in the city yet and I was underage. Internet was not in full swing either. The tattoos were supposed to have read, "Strength and Courage." I'm sure they don't. LoL! If you could tell me what the characters mean (if anything), I would appreciate it.

Thanks,

JKreasy



小畜 "little animal" and 大過 "big mistake".

from: Fabiano B.
to: tiangotlost@gmail.com 
date: Thu, Sep 20, 2012 at 11:24 AM 
subject: Chinese tatoo?

Can you translate this tattoo, please. Thank you.

It is absolute meaningless gibberish based on this font!

Another gullible individual with "THEO" on his arm.  

from: Boris

to: tiangotlost@gmail.com

date: Sat, Aug 4, 2012 at 12:37 PM

subject: Funny tatoo

Hi Tian!

Just saw this photo of an acquaintance -- http://instagram.com/p/N6rLwJGnEK/

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the "Way of the Firebird" tatoo spelled the wrong way round? Just wanted to let you know so you may have a new addition for your Hanzismatter Website.

Kind regards,

Boris

Although the image is reflection taken from a mirror, 火鳥道 is indeed in wrong vertical orientation.