Anyone speak Japanese?

[Shells]

Eh, I took a couple of Japanese courses back in college a few years ago. It was interesting, but I stopped after 2 courses when they changed the requirement for my major so that I no longer needed a foreign language. Anyway, just curious:

I know a girl who has the Hiragana symbol for "ka" (or what looked like it) tattooed on her and and I basically asked her why she got a tattoo of a Japanese questionmark and she said, "Oh no, it means strength!". lol, obviously this sounds like a load of crap to me and just something they told her at the tattoo shop when she was shopping for that super-cool Japanese writing, but I wondered if there's some Kanji character that looks similar to "ka" so that maybe she's right.

Anyone know?

[StaticX27]

力 = ちから = Strength / power type thing
九　＝　きゅう　＝　9

For those without language packs installed:

Chikara = power, and the kanji looks like a katakana "ka"
Kyuu = 9, which also looks similar to a katakana "ka"

Don't forget that the hiragana "ka" has an additional stroke in the top right of the character compared to the katakana "ka." I'm sure there's more kanji out there that use a similar looking thing. Like the verb "to cooperate" has 2 kanji, the first one is 3 katakana "ka"'s in formation, followed by the kanji for chikara: 協力. I'm sure I can find even more than that if I looked for it. But no, from what you described, her tattoo is fine

[Shells]

Erm, I see a bunch of squares, but that's probably because Japanese characters aren't supported on my comp.

[StaticX27]

http://www.npo-foster.com/uploads/img45511aac47633.gif

The bottom most character on both sides is Chikara, not "ka"

Only picture I could find on google images ><

[Shells]

力 = ちから = Strength / power type thing
九　＝　きゅう　＝　9

For those without language packs installed:

Chikara = power, and the kanji looks like a katakana "ka"
Kyuu = 9, which also looks similar to a katakana "ka"

Don't forget that the hiragana "ka" has an additional stroke in the top right of the character compared to the katakana "ka." I'm sure there's more kanji out there that use a similar looking thing. Like the verb "to cooperate" has 2 kanji, the first one is 3 katakana "ka"'s in formation, followed by the kanji for chikara: 協力. I'm sure I can find even more than that if I looked for it. But no, from what you described, her tattoo is fine

Ahh, good info, thanks! :bigok:

[SilviaNinja240]

I remember I heard a funny story about a guy who wanted to get "big something or other" tatooed on him, but I guess instead of getting 大(big)- something or other. He ethier got 太(fat) or 犬(dog) something or other tatooed on himself. However I'm sure there are plenty of cases of kanji mistake tattoos that we don't hear about. Although they are becoming more and more popluar, many legit places seem to know what they are doing. However, I still feel bad for the guys :(

[S13SilviaGirl]

I can't wait to get my next tattoo....I have frikken hella characters to choose from for my girls names. Then, the cherry blossoms that I am getting with it...ohhhhhhhhhh can't wait!

[StaticX27]

Honestly I was going to get a 桜 tattoo on my arm, but I decided my skin was too precious for that.

Call me gay, but I happen to like the meaning behind it, and felt it best represented me :P

But just remember the new rule:
Just because your tattoo has Chinese characters in it doesn't
make you spiritual. It's right above the crack of your ass. And
it translates to "beef with broccoli." The last time you did
anything spiritual, you were praying to God you weren't pregnant.
You're not spiritual. You're just high.

http://socalimports.org/forum/showthread.php?t=4590 <-- rest of the rules viewable here :P