100 Beautiful Chinese Japanese Kanji Tattoo Symbols & Designs

Updated: March 18, 2021 / Home » Download Free Templates

Vintage Japanese Kanji Tattoo Ideas

Chinese Tattoos vs Japanese Kanji Tattoos

The Japanese Kanji are essentially Chinese words, the ancient Japanese borrowed and adapted it into their Nippon-Go language, thus the words and meaning are the same, only the pronunciation is different. The ‘worm’ like Japanese words are originally Japanese, but not he Kanji words. As for the Koreans, they’ve totally abandoned the Chinese words and reinvented their own words and language system. The Korean words can be easily identified by their strong use of ‘box’ symbols, lots of boxes. Nippon-Go is more worm like.

Related Article ➤ 9 Most Beautiful Chinese And Japanese Kanji Words

korean vs chinese japanese word kanji

Chinese Zodiac

There are 12 Zodiac in the Chinese calendar, same goes with the Japanese. The only difference is instead of a goat, the Japanese substitute it with a sheep. Since the Chinese calendar uses a different system compared to the Georgian calendar, you will have to look up birth-date on Wikipedia (Chinese Calendar) for your Chinese Zodiac. As usual, always double check before you ink the tattoo.

chinese calendar zodiac tattoo

Our 4 Favorite Tattoos

Below are 4 of our favorite Chinese Tattoos, they are dragon, patience, book and peace. The Dragon and Patience are all time favorite, the ‘Patience’ word is more meaningful in the sense that it is a combo of 2 Chinese word, Knife (top) and heart (down). When combined, it creates a new word and meaning – Without patience, the knife will strike the heart. Click on image for a higher resolution.

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chinese tattoo dragon peace book patience

More Chinese Japanese Kanji Tattoos

Here are even more best of the best Chinese Japanese tattoos symbols for men, women, girls, and more. From love to flower, from koi to sleeves. Click on the image for the full resolution, to search for a specific word in English, hit ‘Ctrl’ + ‘F’ button on your browser. The search box will appear and you can perform a quick search for the word you’ve been searching for.

Chinese Signs Spirit, Men, Father, Child, Grandson, Sunrise, Sunset Soul, Contract, Divorce, Military, Power, Soldier, Ancestor / Clan

  1. Spirit, Men, Father, Child, Grandson, Sunrise, Sunset
  2. Soul, Contract, Divorce, Military, Power, Soldier, Ancestor / Clan
  3. Pray, Supreme Being, Immortal Being, Guard / Defend, Listen / Obey, Football, Boxing
  4. Holy / Sacred, Buddha / Buddhism, Temple, God, Minister, Heaven / Sky, Gate of Heaven

Chinese tattoo fonts Uncle, Sage, Talisman, Butterfly, Mantis, Spider, Centipede Husband, Elder Brother, Younger Brother, Rich, Gamble, Genius, Crown

  1. Uncle, Sage, Talisman, Butterfly, Mantis, Spider, Centipede
  2. Husband, Elder Brother, Younger Brother, Rich, Gamble, Genius, Crown
  3. Laugh / Smile, Flower, Rose, Master, Teacher, Ruler / Monarch, King
  4. Cheerful, Eternity, Friends, Married Couple, Wife, Mother, Grandmother

kanji tattoo Strong, Taboo, Shit, Battle Treasure Crazy Win, Wolf

  1. Win, Wolf
  2. Strong, Crazy
  3. Taboo, Treasure
  4. Shit, Battle

kanji tattoo Angel, Last Heaven, Jihad Space, Murder Sun, Doll

  1. Angel, Last
  2. Heaven, Jihad
  3. Space, Murder
  4. Sun, Doll
  5. Moonshine, C eschatology

kanji tattoo

  1. God, Goddess
  2. Kill, Rock
  3. Sound, Secret
  4. Evil, Daybreak
  5. Death, Metal
  6. Black, Master

Tattoo fonts for women

  1. Foolish, Violate / Attack, Deceive / Bully, Mentally Deranged / Insane, Violent / Hot Tempered, Grave, Feareful / Intimidate
  2. Humble, Devious / Evil, Mad / Crazy, Kill, Slaughter, Strong, Fierce
  3. Defiance / Tough, Poison, Sinister / Secret, Interrogate, Beat / Torture, Butcher, Decapitate
  4. Obscene, Dirty / Filthy, Corpse, Prisoner, Execute Criminal, Fight, Barbarians / Savages
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Tragedy Happiness Wisdom

  1. Tragedy, Happiness, Wisdom

Top 50 Popular Japanese Kanji Tattoos

If you are looking for basic kanji characters that are popular and meaningful, here are 50 of them. To search for the calligraphy font, Google the word in bracket under Google Images. Here is an example of ‘The Code of Samurai (Bushidou)‘

  1. Ambition (Yabou)
  2. Beauty (Bi)
  3. Belief (Shinnen)
  4. Bravery (Yuukan)
  5. Buddhism (Bukkyou)
  6. Courage (Yuuki)
  7. The Code of Samurai (Bushidou)
  8. Desire (Yokubou)
  9. Dragon (Ryuu)
  10. Dream (yume)
  11. Enlightenment (Satori)
  12. Eternity (Eien)
  13. Freedom (Jiyuu)
  14. Friendship (Yuujou)
  15. God (Kami)
  16. Happiness (Koufuku)
  17. Honor (Meiyo)
  18. Hope (Kibou)
  19. Ideal (Risou)
  20. Illusion (Gensou)
  21. Justice (Seigi)
  22. Legend (Densetsu)
  23. Love (Ai)
  24. Loyalty (Chuujitsu)
  25. Meditation (Mokusou)
  26. Moon (Tsuki)
  27. Nature (Shizen)
  28. Ocean (Umi)
  29. Passion (Jounetsu)
  30. Peace (Heiwa)
  31. Perfect (Kanzen)
  32. Power (Chikara)
  33. Pride (Hokori)
  34. Promise (Yakusoku)
  35. Rainbow (Niji)
  36. Respect (Sonkei)
  37. Samurai
  38. Secret (Himitsu)
  39. Sky (Sora)
  40. Shogun
  41. Star (Hoshi)
  42. Soul (Tamashii)
  43. Spirit (Seishin)
  44. Success (Seikou)
  45. Sun (Taiyou)
  46. Truth (Shinjitsu)
  47. Universe (Uchuu)
  48. Victory (Shouri)
  49. Wisdom (Chie)
  50. Zen

Some Interesting Facts About Tattoo

Some truth, history and facts regarding tattoo.

tattoo infographic

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Updated On March 18, 2021 / Category: Download Free Templates / Author: Ngan Tengyuen

22 Comments

  1. Gravatar
    marco [ Reply ]

    bad handwriting
    Spirit, Men, Father, Child, Grandson, Sunrise, Sunset
    Soul, Contract, Divorce, Military, Power, Soldier, Ancestor / Clan
    Pray, Supreme Being, Immortal Being, Guard / Defend, Listen / Obey, Football, Boxing
    Holy / Sacred, Buddha / Buddhism, Temple, God, Minister, Heaven / Sky, Gate of Heaven
    Uncle, Sage, Talisman, Butterfly, Mantis, Spider, Centipede
    Husband, Elder Brother, Younger Brother, Rich, Gamble, Genius, Crown
    Laugh / Smile, Flower, Rose, Master, Teacher, Ruler / Monarch, King
    Cheerful, Eternity, Friends, Married Couple, Wife, Mother, Grandmother
    Foolish, Violate / Attack, Deceive / Bully, Mentally Deranged / Insane, Violent / Hot Tempered, Grave, Feareful / Intimidate
    Humble, Devious / Evil, Mad / Crazy, Kill, Slaughter, Strong, Fierce
    Defiance / Tough, Poison, Sinister / Secret, Interrogate, Beat / Torture, Butcher, Decapitate
    Obscene, Dirty / Filthy, Corpse, Prisoner, Execute Criminal, Fight, Barbarians / Savages

    This is certainly not my writing.

    I think you are mistaken in your interpretation
    休=Stop(not Divorce)
    帝(XX大帝、皇帝)=King(King of XX)
    宗=Clan(messy writing)
    蚣not good(蜈蚣is Better)
    玟different玫，Rose(玫瑰)
    終末(Strange 盡頭is Better)
    歪、艮、淫、慘劇What a joke???not good for Tatoo
    知惠is japanese

  2. Gravatar
    Ash [ Reply ]

    I am wonder if any body knows what (mental strength)looks like in japanese kanji

    • Gravatar
      xiao [ Reply ]

      Usually you wouldn’t find good words in Japanese/Chinese that corresponding to your English words.
      What you think attractive is not as attractive for Japanese. (At the same time, what Japanese think is attractive is not attractive for you, because of cultural difference.)
      I would descrive ‘mental strength’ as 忍 which means patiency in both Japanese and Chinese, also is a famous Kanji (for Non-Japanese people) because it is the first charactor of Ninja/忍者(Ninja literally means ‘a patient guy’) in Japan. Japanese people would think ‘Oh that is a typical foreigner who Japanese culture’. But at least nobody would think that is stupid.

      • Gravatar
        Stephen cole [ Reply ]

        Could you help me to decipher my friends tattoo she was told it meant beautiful but I can’t find it anywhere

  3. Gravatar
    xiao [ Reply ]

    Many mistake and bad writings in 4×7 boxes

    • Gravatar
      Joshua [ Reply ]

      Brother, do you know what it will be “enrich the soul” in kanji ?

  4. Gravatar
    Seth MacKenzie [ Reply ]

    Hello,
    Does anyone happen to know how “With Pain Comes Strength” would be written in kanji ?

    • Gravatar
      Ngan Tengyuen [ Reply ]

      I advice you to seek advice from a professor that is dual-lingual. Tattoo is permanent, you do not want a bad mistake.

  5. Gravatar
    Sandra Lopez [ Reply ]

    Hi I’m new here, I do have 5 different cultures but I do have Japanese and Chinese..

  6. Gravatar
    japhorism [ Reply ]

    Hi! Numerous opportunities to observe foreigners with kanji tattoos arise in Japan, both via the internet and when walking around town. Being Japanese, this makes me very happy and I admire their wonderful designs and the messages contained therein. However, you can also often see designs that make no sense whatsoever or contain mistakes in the characters themselves. I created this website because I think that if youʼre going to inscribe something permanently on your body, it is better to thoroughly understand the meaning of it, and to be certain that these are enduring words to live by or an important message. I will be happy if my site is even slightly helpful to anyone thinking about getting a kanji tattoo design.

    • Gravatar
      CAL [ Reply ]

      I’m looking for the same word that means warrior in Japanese and chinese

    • Gravatar
      Summer [ Reply ]

      I would like to know what faith, love and hope are in kanji. I’ve seen them together written in a total of 3 characters. But i’ve also seen hope and faith written in 2 characters each.

  7. Gravatar
    Mikael [ Reply ]

    Brotherhood in Kanji

  8. Gravatar
    Michelle L Mastriana [ Reply ]

    I love the Japanese culture…and kanji !

  9. Gravatar
    Theresa [ Reply ]

    What is granddaughter sign in Japanese

  10. Gravatar
    Dave [ Reply ]

    Miserable symbol in kanji please

  11. Gravatar
    Eric Vaidich [ Reply ]

    I would like to know the right characters for( Family forever) in kanji….. I’m getting my sons foot prints on my arm and I want these characters by them

  12. Gravatar
    Dezmin Marshall [ Reply ]

    How do you say “With pain, comes strength” in Chinese symbols?

  13. Gravatar
    Nathalie Vazquez [ Reply ]

    I need help how to write and translate the work BLESEED in Japanese. I looking into getting blessed as a tattoo and want to be 100% before get it done.

  14. Gravatar
    Tamara [ Reply ]

    How do you write ” always with you”in kanji?

  15. Gravatar
    Bjarki Halldorsson [ Reply ]

    How do you write the word positive or positivity

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