”Exorcism”, no today’s word matched.(This one totally blows me away.)

“Thunder”, as in today’s 雷

“poem”, as in today’s 诗

“river”, as in today’s 河

“emotionally attached”, as in today’s 恋

“huge”, as in today’s 巨

“certain herbaceous plants with big flowers like sunflowers”, as in today’s 葵

“celestial being;immortal”, as in today’s 仙

“hall,front courtyard” as in today’s “庭”

Chinese have always heard people say Chinese Hanzi are like “pictures”. Well, these words DO look like pictures, even to me, a Chinese. Enjoy!

To understand others is to have knowledge;知人者智

To understand oneself is to be illuminated.自知者明

To conquer others needs strength;胜人者有力

To conquer oneself is harder still 自胜者强

To be content with what one has is to be rich 知足者富

1.Chengyu has a huge list

According to the Chinese National Committee of Language Usage, the number of existing Chengyu that are widely acknowledged and used is around 5,000. That being said, you can choose one that suits you well from over Five Thousand “candidates”, which means you never have to worry there aren’t enough choices availabe and what you choose might unluckily be the same as others. With such a huge list, everyone can get one that’s different from others.

2.Chengyu is rich and colorful in meaning

Among the 5,000 words, an overwhelming majority were first derived from Chinese ancient literatures and anecdotes, mostly dramatic and thought-provoking stories. They were derived to either reflect the morals behind such stories or to simply tell the delicate situation going on in the stories. For this reason, the literal meanings carried by the characters are often far from what Chengyu really intends to suggest. There can be a moral, a historic event or even an overturn of the emperor behind every Chengyu, which makes it a lot deeper and richer in meaning than ordinary Chinese words. If you can find one that closely matches your presonality or attitudes, what you ink on your body will be so much more than the visible characters. It’s the rich and colorful Chinese culture behind that says your attitudes aloud to the world.

3. There is one suitable Chengyu for all walks of life

Since there are 5,000 Chengyu out there, plus they were derived from all kinds of different literatures dealing with all kinds of stories imaginable, Chengyu virtually embrace everything. Virtues, love, relationships, figure, emotions, objects, anything we can think of, all are included. Boldly speaking, Chengyu can describe anything. Therefore, it doesn’t matter if you are a college student or a guy who has recently celebrated the 30th anniversary, if you are a Christian or a Catholic, if you die for Rock music or you are a huge Beethoven fan, there is always one Chengyu that suits you as a fabulous tattoo.

4. Chengyu makes a nice size for tattoo

In reality we may have noticed that most people tend to get a single-character tattoo. That’s fine indeed, except for the size. Since it looks extremely ugly for a single character to be inked oversizely, in most cases the one character will be inked relatively small, which makes it petty and insignificant to some extent. With Chengyu the problem can be solved at once. From the beginning we know that Chengyu is strictly composed of four characters with very few exceptions. This being said, what we choose from Chengyu basicly comes in four characters, which means without having to ink oversizely, our tattoo will be four times as big as those with a single character. With a bigger size and a fancy meaning, Chengyu can surely guarantees that your tattoo IMPRESSES.

5. Chengyu makes you a conversation magnet

Have you ever experienced the “uncomfortable silences”? I assume the answer would be yes. It usually happens between you and someone you know but don’t know well. After the polite exchange of “how’s life?”, suddenly you two are stuck of words, simply because there aren’t much left to say. If this sounds familiar to you, an ink of Chengyu can easily fix this, and for a lifetime. From the literal meaning to the hidden moral, you can just talk on and on about the Chengyu inked on you, and I see few possiblities that your audience will be bored. In fact, you can not only avoid the “uncomfortable silences”, but also start a casual yet entertaining conversation with strangers, and by this make new acquaintance more easily than you’ve ever thought.

6. Chengyu is never out of date

The existing 5,000 Chengyu have already endured hundreds of years to be acknowledged by people. It’s the moral and wisdom behind them that keeps them still in usage in the current time, and without any doubt, for the long future. Morals and wisdom endure centuries, that’s why Chengyu will never be out of date. Be rest assured of this.

7. Chengyu is SMART

Here comes the final reason, which I believe is the most significant one. Chengyu can make a killer tattoo primarily because it’s smart. The wisdom, the morals and the rich culture behind Chengyu altogether make it nothing less than a smart phrase for ink. And that’s pretty much what people need out of a tattoo. It’s commonly believed that people get inked to demonstrate an attitude to the world. That’s true but there is a deeper incentive. People get inked to look SMART. This applies to everyone with few exceptions (the only one may be Micheal Scofield in Prison Break). Since Chengyu is smart, it definitely merits inking whatsoever.

Better alternatives for 勇(brave)

 peerless or matchless in bravery or valor

 full of guts from head to toe

 fearless<daring;dauntless;bold>

 full of guts from head to toe; know no fear(same as 一身是胆)

 He who is brave fears not.

Better alternatives for 力(force)

a person of a stocky and imposing build <boxer’s sinuous posture>

to pull up mountains and raise tripods–herculean or great in strength

a copper head and an iron forehead <valorous and tough like Achilles>

 strong and powerful

Better alternatives for 爱(love)
I’ve discussed about this in the post Top 10 Romantic Chinese Idioms for Your Tattoo. Check it out!

 Force                        Tiger

 Diligence                  Benevolence

 to endure                  Brave

 (Chinese) Dragon     Righteousness

 Love                          Loyal

Again, these are really good words for ink. The only problem in this is that with them as tattoos you are running the risk of seeing others wearing the same, which may potentially cause some embarassments. If you feel OK about this and insist on getting one of these words, please go right ahead. I don’t want my suggestion to be the obstacle to your choice.

Good news for those who don’t feel OK of getting the same tattoo as others. In the next post I’ll share with you some nice alternatives, which bear the same favorable meaning as these ones while are much more unique. Stay tuned.

The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.

                                                                                                                           - Psalms 33:5
耶和华喜爱仁义公平，遍地布满了他的慈爱。

Be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another.
                                                                                               - Ephesians 4:32
要以恩慈相待，存怜悯的心，彼此饶恕。

Behold I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest.
                                                                                                                  - Genesis 28:15

我与你同在，你无论往哪里去，我必保佑你。

Who refreshes others will be refreshed.
                                                            -Proverbs 11:25
滋润人的，必得滋润。

It is more blessed to give than to receive.
                                                                - Acts 20:35
施比受更为有福。

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.
                                                                                                                          - Proverbs 3:5
你要专心仰赖耶和华，不可倚靠自己的聪明。

In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.
                                                                                                      - Proverbs 3:6
在你一切所行的事上，都要认定他，他必指引你的路。

I will never fail you or forsake you.
                                                       - Hebrews 13:5
我总不撇下你，也不丢弃你。

A merry heart doeth good like medicine.
                                                               - Proverbs 17:22
喜乐的心，乃是良药。

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
                                                                                 - Matthew 5:8
清心的人有福了，因为他们必得见神。

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.
                                                                                                            - Matthew 5:9
使人和睦的人有福了，因为他们必称为神的儿子。

Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart.
                                                                                                                   - Psalms 27:14
要等候耶和华,当壮胆，坚固你的心。

Thou shall decree a thing and it shall be established unto thee and a light shall shine upon thy ways.
                                                                                                                                             - Job 22:28
你定意要作何事，必然给你成就。亮光也必照耀你的路。

If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believeth.
                                                                                                 - Mark 9:23
你若能信，在信的人，凡事都能。

O, give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good.
                                                                     - I Chronicles 16:34
应当称谢耶和华，因他本为善。

For in Him we live, and move and have our being.
                                                                            - Acts 17:28

我们生活，动作，存留，都在乎于耶和华。

Wisdom is a fountain of life to him who has it.
                                                                        - Proverbs 16:22
人有智慧就有生命的泉源。

He will fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.
                                                                                                           - Job 8:21
他要以喜笑充满你的口，以欢呼充满你的嘴。

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
                                                                                  - Philippians 4:13
我靠着那加给我力量的，凡事都能作。

Behold, I make all things new.
                                              - Revelation 21:5
看哪，我将一切都更新了。

The Lord is good. His love endures forever, his faithfulness continues through all generations.
                                                                                                                                         - Psalms 100:5

耶和华本为善，他的慈爱，存到永远，他的信实，直到万代。

Let the name of the Lord be praised both now and forevermore.
                                                                                                   - Psalms 113:3
让耶和华被永世称赞。

Again, please leave your likes in the comments, I’ll send you clear,big pictures via e-mail if you want. Cheers!

 Whosoever trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.

                                                                    -Proverbs 16:20

依靠耶和华的，便为有福。

The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.

                                                                 -Hebrews 13:6

主是帮助我的，我必不惧怕。

Cast your cares upon the Lord, for he cares about you.
                                                                                     - I Peter 5:7
将一切的忧虑卸给神，因为他顾念你们。

My soul finds rest in God alone: My salvation comes from Him.
                                                                                                  - Psalms 62:1
我的心默默无声，专等候神。我的救恩是从他而来。

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
                                                                                           - Psalms 119:105
你的话是我脚前的灯，是我路上的光。

The fruit of the spirit is love, joy and peace.
                                                                   - Galatians 5:22
圣灵所结的果子，就是仁爱，喜乐，和平。

The kingdom of God is within you.
                                                       - Luke 17:21
神的国就在你们心里.

He covers the sky with clouds, he supplies the earth with rain, and maketh the grass grow on the hills.
         - Psalms 147:8
他用云遮天，为地降雨，使草生长在山上。

Come unto me, ye who are weary and overburdened, and I will give you rest.
                                                                                                                     - Matthew 11:28
凡劳苦担重担的人，可以到我这里来，我就使你们得安息。

Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God.
                                                                                 - Job 37:14
站好，想想神那奇妙的作为。

There is no fear in love; for perfect love casteth out fear.
                                                                                     - I John 4:18
爱里没有惧怕。爱既完全，就把惧怕除去。

Love is patient, love is kind。 爱是恒久忍耐，又有恩慈

Love never fails.                         

                          - I Corinthians 13:4,8
爱是永不止息

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and has made the Lord his hope and confidence.
                                                                                                                                       - Jeremiah 17:7
倚靠耶和华，以耶和华为希望和信心的，那人便有福了。

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.
                                                                                                                                     - John 14:27
我留下平安给你们，我将我的平安赐给你们。我所赐的，不像世人所赐的。

God has poured out his love into our hearts.
                                                                     - Romans 5:5
神将爱浇灌在我们心里。

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might.
                                                                                            - Ecclesiastes 9:10
凡你手所当做的事，要尽力去做。

With men it is impossible; but to God all things are possible.
                                                                                              - Matthew 19:26
在人所不能的，在神凡事都能。

Remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the power to get wealth.
                                                                                                                              - Deuteronomy 8:18

记念耶和华你的神，因为得货财的力量是他给你的。

In the Lord, put your trust.
                                         - Psalms 11:1
相信耶和华。

God is with you in all that you do.

                                                    - Genesis 21:22
凡你所行之事皆有神之庇佑。

Freely you have received, freely give.
                                                        - Matthew 10:8
你们白白地得来，也要白白地舍去。

Glorious, majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever.
                                                                                                                - Psalms 111:3
他所行的是尊荣和威严。他的公义永世长存。

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.
                                                                                  - I Corinthians 14:33
神并不创造混乱，乃是创造安宁。

Let not the sun go down upon your wrath.
                                                                 - Ephesians 4:26
不可含怒到日落。

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding.
                                                                                                                  - Proverbs 3:13
得智慧，得聪明的，这人便为有福。

Seek peace, and pursue it.
                                       - Psalms 34:14

寻求和睦，一心追赶。

If you have interests in any one of the above quotes, please leave it in the comments. I’m sure you will need a clear and big picture of the Chinese version, which I will send you via e-mail. There are so many of these, therefore producing and uploading all the Chinese translations in clear, big pictures like before is too big a wordload for me to take. Sorry guys! God says “Be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another” Cheers!

Here is a tattoo idea which I’m 100% that no one has tried before. However, I dare to say this rocks! Do you want to know what it is? Chinese tongue twister!

化肥会挥发(hua fei hui hui fa)

This one literally says “fertilizer is volatile”, which is somewhat confusing by meaning. Well, what a tongue twister tells is insignificant, what is significant is the difficulty to tell it, quickly and correctly. This one beats most of the other tongue twisters and is perhaps the most orally-challenging tongue twister ever.

If you have doubts about it, just try to read it fast and clearly. If you don’t know how to read them, invite your friends who can and play a trick on them by asking them to read it fast, fast, fast, and get ready to see a real twisted tongue:D

Do you find a lot fun in this? If you like this one and get it inked, you are actually ready to play tricks on others any time, all you need to do is ask people to read the tattoo on your body. This can really be a fantastic tool to make new acquaintance. See, as most people are wearing tough,formidable Chinese characters as tattoos to fear others, yours are entertaining and adorable. Doesn’t it make you a hit among your friends?

释放 emancipation

Ink it if you like its shape. Maybe that marks a brand new life journey of self-rediscovering as you begin to Be Yourself and Live Consciously.

Now you can have a new way of getting nice tattoo ideas: Chinese advertisements. To be more specificly, sports ads. Keep an eye on the slogans of sports ads in China. Most of them are simple,smart and short, all the essential ingredients for a nice Chinese tattoo.
Well that’s just an alternative. To get a smart idea for ink, the best place to hit would always be this website you’re now visiting
In a short time I’ll have a good study of the Bible and list some smartly tranlated sentences for your considerations as tattoo. If currently you’ve got some favourite quotes from Bible, please tell me. I’ll tell you the Chinese translation and maybe you can use it as a new tattoo:)