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Kanji for mindfulness - pyratus - 2011-03-14
Hello there, I've been taken to your forums via Google and I find this community quite inspiring :D You just seem to know your stuff and are really open and helpful.
I've a question to ask;
Is this the correct kanji for "mindfulness." (Or, awareness of self, I have been told.)
Image: http://www.drmease.com/mindfulness.gif
If not, what is?
Would this be appropriate?
http://i51.tinypic.com/2iitjes.jpg
Thank you in advance.
Kanji for mindfulness - dat5h - 2011-03-14
念 is the character you've got there. I suppose in some senses 'mindfulness' is an ok definition. When i asked my girlfriend she says she has the image of prayer in mind.
May I ask what you plan for this character? Is this a tattoo?
Kanji for mindfulness - yudantaiteki - 2011-03-14
I assume this is for a tattoo; the way Japanese (and Chinese) works, you can't take an English word and come up with the single "correct" kanji for it; the best you can do is pick a character that might represent that word or concept sometimes. (This is especially true with abstract concepts like "mindfulness".)
Here's EDICT's list of 29 common words that use this kanji, so you can see if it's what you like:
http://jisho.org/words?jap=*%E5%BF%B5*&eng=&dict=edict&common=on
Kanji for mindfulness - ファブリス - 2011-03-14
Hya and welcome.
Discussing character meanings or writings can be posted in The Japanese Language, which is about "Grammar, vocab, kanji and kana" (ie. the writing system).
Topic moved.
Kanji for mindfulness - pyratus - 2011-03-14
dat5h Wrote:念 is the character you've got there. I suppose in some senses 'mindfulness' is an ok definition. When i asked my girlfriend she says she has the image of prayer in mind.It is for a tattoo, yes.
May I ask what you plan for this character? Is this a tattoo?
Though, oddly enough, after going through this site and the community I am way more interested in possibly learning to interpret and understand Kanji in a recreational sense too.
yudantaiteki Wrote:I assume this is for a tattoo; the way Japanese (and Chinese) works, you can't take an English word and come up with the single "correct" kanji for it; the best you can do is pick a character that might represent that word or concept sometimes. (This is especially true with abstract concepts like "mindfulness".)That's the reason I came to you guys as you seemed to know your stuff.
Here's EDICT's list of 29 common words that use this kanji, so you can see if it's what you like:
http://jisho.org/words?jap=*%E5%BF%B5*&eng=&dict=edict&common=on
I think, from looking at the link, that it is the most accurate character to describe the general concept of mindfulness, should no one else expand on this I shall use the character. Thanks very much and cheers for that link too.
If I were to use this character (http://jisho.org/kanji/details/念) would the following stylised version be appropriate?
http://i51.tinypic.com/2iitjes.jpg
Or should I be looking for something a little cleaner?
I guess I don't want it to be misinterpreted or use the wrong Kanji.
Also: Thanks ファブリス for moving this to a more appropriate section.
Kanji for mindfulness - pyratus - 2011-03-16
Sorry guys, just wanna clarify, then I'll be out of your hair; would this version of the 念 Kanji be appropriate?
http://i56.tinypic.com/fva35e.jpg
Kanji for mindfulness - vinniram - 2011-03-16
if you want to say mindfulness as in "right mindfulness", part of the noble eight-fold path, you can say 正念【しょうねん】.
Kanji for mindfulness - pyratus - 2011-03-16
vinniram Wrote:if you want to say mindfulness as in "right mindfulness", part of the noble eight-fold path, you can say 正念【しょうねん】.I think 正念 is exactly what I'm after. Thank you
Kanji for mindfulness - JimmySeal - 2011-03-16
pyratus Wrote:Sorry guys, just wanna clarify, then I'll be out of your hair; would this version of the 念 Kanji be appropriate?That version would only be more appropriate if you're really really into heavy metal.
http://i56.tinypic.com/fva35e.jpg
Kanji for mindfulness - pyratus - 2011-03-16
JimmySeal Wrote:Why do you say that?pyratus Wrote:Sorry guys, just wanna clarify, then I'll be out of your hair; would this version of the 念 Kanji be appropriate?That version would only be more appropriate if you're really really into heavy metal.
http://i56.tinypic.com/fva35e.jpg
Kanji for mindfulness - Tori-kun - 2011-03-16
@pyratus
because it looks.. imbalanced (NOT imba!). Calligraphied kanjis need to have some balance. That's the art of shodou. Yours hasn't (correct me if i'm wrong) or looks really.. metal-like.
Kanji for mindfulness - pyratus - 2011-03-16
Tori-kun Wrote:@pyratusAh, I see exactly what you mean. I'll work to soften and balance it, much appreciated for all your help.
because it looks.. imbalanced (NOT imba!). Calligraphied kanjis need to have some balance. That's the art of shodou. Yours hasn't (correct me if i'm wrong) or looks really.. metal-like.
Kanji for mindfulness - Eikyu - 2011-03-16
You can look at this:
http://www.edrdg.org/cgi-bin/wwwjdic/wwwjdic?162059_%C7%B0
to get an idea of how to draw it.
Kanji for mindfulness - pyratus - 2011-03-16
Eikyu Wrote:You can look at this:That's really helpful, thank you
http://www.edrdg.org/cgi-bin/wwwjdic/wwwjdic?162059_%C7%B0
to get an idea of how to draw it.
Kanji for mindfulness - yukamina - 2011-03-17
Are you sure you should be drawing your own tattoo design?
Anyway, if any more confirmation is needed, I looked up the English wikipedia page for Mindfulness, switched the language to Japanese, and it does give 念 as the kanji.