Antelope

(full size)

Reader Andre emailed this photo of a local tattoo shop's display case in Leipzig, Germany.

The tattoo suppose to be 羚羊, which means "antelope", but somehow the first character has then split into two partials.

Open Letter to Cosmopolitan Magazine

Dear Cosmopolitan,


We need to talk.

Over the years, I really appreciated how your magazine and team of experts have taught millions of women how to properly perform fellatio and enjoy the soothing sensation of anal intercourse.

I am surprised to find in your latest issue, you claimed that if a man has an “Asian character tattoo”:

This stud craves mystery in his life, so expect surprises, whether it's a last-minute getaway or an out-of-the-box erotic move. “Since few will know the translation of his chosen character, he relishes the opportunity to explain the hidden meaning behind it," says Green. "He uses the symbol to give people insight into his personality and what he's all about."

Are you f*cking kidding me?

Obviously you have been cooped up inside your office for too long, over-dosing on the complementary chocolates from Godiva, but please do take a look of my site and perhaps read through some of the “Asian character tattoo” owners’ stories…

By the way, there are over a dozen countries in the Asia continent. Most of them have their own writing scripts. What you would call “Asian characters” is actually “Chinese characters”.

Perhaps you could add this tip into your next issue, so we men would not stereotype majority of your female readers as sex objects but human beings with some intelligence.

ps. Will "donut hole" be featured in your next issue?

Sincerely,


Tian

Brokeback Alpha Dog

http://www.youtube.com/w/?v=yeBUsLtnxzY

I was first informed in November of 2004 about Justin Timberlake’s new movie “Alpha Dog” (opens on Feb. 24, 2006).

Timberlake plays a character named “Frankie Ballenbacher” and the movie is based on the real life of Jesse James Hollywood, a drug dealer who became one of the youngest men ever to be on the FBI's most wanted list.

Why would a hardcore criminal get a tattoo that says 溜冰 “ice skating” on his arm?

Perhaps he is a “brokeback” alpha dog.


Update: Reader Theresa says:

Here's a link to Tinsley Transfers, a company that apparently provides most of Hollywood with its temporary tattoos. It should interest you to see that characters are not only listed as Chinese/Japanese "symbols", but that they are listed under the TRIBAL section of the webpage. Funny, I don't see one that says "Hakka."


Related: Brokeback Hour, Brokeback Heat, Brokeback to the Future, Broke Mac Mountain

Small Harvest

“Jeff” emailed me asking about this tattoo he got when he was younger. At first he thought it meant “Strength”, he was into Karate at the time. Several recent events have led to him to believe that his tattoo does not mean “strength”.

Both characters are correct.

The character on the left 小 means “small”, “tiny” or “insignificant”, and the other 畜 means “livestock” or “domestic animals”.

Although in the classic Chinese literature 易經 (I Ching), there is a mentioning about 小畜:

Hexagram 9 is named 小畜 , "Small Accumulating". Other variations include "the taming power of the small" and "small harvest".

Just what exactly the “small harvest” is about, only “Jeff” would know.

"Dare not to Accept"

www.porkdisco.com/g2/v/badtattoos/skanktatoos/s640x480-1.jpeg.html

Reader Johan L. forwarded this photo to me from another site. Someone has already commented about the tattoo:

"Wow. It almost seems like this is the biggest cliche female tattoo I've seen. It's a lower back tattoo, it's got a dragon, tribal, random water splashes, roses, AND kanji! That is some sort of record."

Indeed.

Especially when 不敢當 (dare not to accept) is one of the most common courtesy phrases used in Chinese. This is equivalent of getting a tattoo that says "Thank You, Come Again" in English.

"Knife Through Loss"

http://www.bmezine.com/tattoo/A60123/high/bmepb211706.jpg

This untitled submission to BMEzine.com's kanji tattoo gallery only had caption of "Tattoo done on Ian. by Tracie at MARKED FOR LIFE. Ossett. West Yorkshire."

The first character appears to be 刀 (knife). The next two 通过 means "pass through". The last two 损失 is "loss".

The faux-brush calligraphy is terrible.

"Freedom Fighter"

An U. S. Navy recruiter from Raleigh, North Carolina, emailed me this photo and says the young recruit (tattoo's owner) claimed it meant "freedom fighter".

The closest character would even resemble the bottom one would be 埋, which means "[to] bury".

The top two characters 他 and 斯 only mean "he/him" and "this/thus". The bottom character 娌 means "brother's wife" or "sister-in-law".

"Freedom" usually is written as 自由 and "fighter" is 戰士.