Back

Can u mirror a kanji without changing its meaning?

#1
ive got inked and i just noticed the tattoer MIRRORED IT!!!!!!!!!!!! Sad OMG
http://fsb.zedge.net/content/3/0/5/7/1-1...3057-t.jpg

this kanji, but the basket looking kanji is in the front not in the 2nd place.

im dieing
Edited: 2015-05-22, 1:43 pm
Reply
#2
It's the same as a backwards letter in English. It doesn't change the meaning, it's just wrong.

Was the second kanji mirrored as well? That one actually changes meaning if you reverse it (from "person" to "enter")
Reply
#3
Well, you can certainly mirror some kanji without changing their meaning... like this one: 田

Otherwise, pretty much nope, it will be either different meaning or will not be existing kanji.

Edit: Oh, I was wandering what kanji it is, but it's 2 kanjis vertically (神 and 人)

Your tatooed kanji does not exists btw, 礻is always on the left side.
Edited: 2015-05-22, 2:44 pm
Reply
May 16 - 30 : Pretty Big Deal: Save 31% on all Premium Subscriptions! - Sign up here
JapanesePod101
#4
No you cannot mirror kanji. ^ Thats a good point though, but not in this case.
Edited: 2015-05-22, 2:38 pm
Reply
#5
I am not sure what the original kanji means, I can't find it. Are you sure it's not Chinese? However, I sincerely doubt that you can exchange the parts. Sorry. I reckon people will be able to guess the meaning though, if they know the normal one. But they will note the mistake.

Edit: funny how everyone answered at the same time Smile
Edited: 2015-05-22, 2:46 pm
Reply
#6
If you mirror the positions of those two radicals, the resulting kanji means "Dog" instead of "God". Tongue
Edited: 2015-05-22, 2:43 pm
Reply
#7
No, mirroring does not work.
You probably meant 神人 which are 2 characters, literally "god person". I would recommend getting it removed, since any one who could read it would think it to be stupid/ arrogant.
If you definitely want a kanji tattoo, I recommend picking a 4-character compound with a cool meaning from this list (http://home.earthlink.net/~4jword/index3.htm) for example. You should also use a cursive font since that makes it looks more classic (like here http://ameblo.jp/tokyo-tattoo/entry-11326988596.html).
Reply
#8
Sorry for your luck. I'd think about getting it removed.

I think it's a bad idea to get kanji tattoo unless you can answer your question for yourself. Even if you get the tattoo the right way round, there might be a meaning that you just don't get unless you are familiar with the language. Since you are an english speaker, I'll link this page as an illustration of how it works for people who look words up in a Japanese - English dictionary and think it means the same in both languages.
Reply
#9
I like how everyone is saying 'get it removed' as if it's that easy...
Let me correct that, get it covered or incorporated into something else; if it's dark ink, it might be a bit difficult to cover it with something simple, but talk to an artist about it (find someone good at covering things).

The problem with kanji tattoos is two-fold:
1.) people that get them often don't know what they mean
2.) the tattooist probably doesn't know what they are either and makes simple mistakes which leaves the inked person looking... less intelligent than they'd like.

Not trying to steer you away from them though; kanji can be really good looking, and if you or someone you trust picks an interesting word, then they can be great ink.
Reply
#10
i know the meaning, its from shin akuma, he got this kanji on the back of his suit, it means god person, i chose it because every human is divine, omg i didnt just randomly choose a kanji -.- ive looked it up myself im not so dumb to get one recommendet by a random tattooer, u cant recommend a tattoo dats like some recommends u a wife -.-

***** ***** ***** dat ***** idiot *****!!!

thx 4 answers tho
Edited: 2015-05-22, 6:17 pm
Reply
#11
Yep, this is my favorite thread so far this year.
Reply
#12
0/10 bad troll. Maybe next time.
Reply